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ReprintsKarmann fails to win Golf convertible deal
Bettina Mayer
Automotive News Europe
May 23, 2008 11:17 CET
Volkswagen will build its new Golf convertible in one of its German factories instead of using coachbuilder Karmann, company sources say. The Golf convertible will debut in 2010. It will be based on VW's sixth-generation Golf that arrives later this year. VW insiders told Automotive News Europe that the Golf convertible will be built in either VW's Wolfsburg or Mosel plant. Both are in northeastern Germany. Karmann built the old Golf convertible but VW cancelled production in 2002 after the car's sales declined. VW intended the New Beetle convertible, which was launched in 2003, to replace the Golf convertible. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn told the French magazine La Tribune on May 19 that the new Golf convertible will be smaller than the Eos convertible, which is based on the Passat and current Golf. Industry insiders say that the Golf convertible will have a softtop. The Eos has a hardtop. VW said Karmann built more than 600,000 Golf convertibles. The company had hoped for the Golf convertible to offset the loss of other contract manufacturing deals. Karmann ended production of the Chrysler Crossfire last December. It will stop production of the Audi A4 convertible this autumn and the Mercedes-Benz CLK class in 2009. You may e-mail Bettina Mayer at bmayer@craincom.de |
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