Automotive News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 37) MARCH 9, 2009 • 37 G E N E VA A U T O S H O W VW shifts marketing money to regions April Wortham awortham@crain.com Need Salespeople, Tech’s, Managers & Other Employees? GENEVA — Volkswagen is shifting up to 30 percent of its U.S. marketing budget from the national to the regional level to boost sales and support dealers, says Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby. Jacoby declined to say how many dollars are being redirected. He said most of the funds will go to dealer advertising associations. “We really have to put everything into realizing sales right now. It’s about focusing and setting priorities in our marketing money,” Jacoby told Automotive News last week at the Geneva auto show. Supporting its more than 600 U.S. dealers is one of several short-term ob- jectives for VW, Jacoby said. Other goals are maintaining its 2 percent U.S. market share achieved in early 2008 and reducing dealer inventory. VW has a little more than a 100-day supply of vehicles on U.S. dealer lots. The automaker wants to return to about a 90-day supply by the end of the second quarter, Jacoby said. “We cannot lose a significant amount of dealers during this time of crisis,” he said. “We want to grow.” VW has said it plans to more than triple U.S. sales to 800,000 vehicles over the next decade from 223,128 in 2008. To reach those volumes, VW is building a $1 billion factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., that will produce a new mid-sized sedan beginning in 2011.c BEST EMPLOYEES AT THE LOWEST COST! 800-421-4550 www.clickhereforadvice.com adviceautocareer@aol.com Ford may bring iosis Max to U.S. Richard Johnson rjohnson@crain.com GENEVA — Ford’s iosis Max concept, unveiled here last week, suggests a multipurpose vehicle for North America and previews the company’s new global design language. The Focus-sized concept could be the basis for a successor to Ford of Europe’s boxy 5-year-old C-Max multiactivity vehicle. Its styling, notably the coupelike profile and distinctive lower trapezoidal grille, probably will Ford’s Patrick Verhee, product leader of the iosis Max concept, says a vehicle akin to the iosis Max could be practical in the United States. PHILIP MEECH BRINGS FLEETS YOUR WAY • Revolutionize the way you interact with your customer-base TODAY • Become a single-source-provider for your FLEET Customers TODAY • Drive Fleet Business back into YOUR dealership TODAY turn up on future C-segment vehicles. The C-Max isn’t sold in the United States, but iosis Max project leader Patrick Verhee said a vehicle along the lines of his concept car would be practical in the United States. With its steeply raked A-pillar and novel rear spoiler, the vehicle aims at a sleeker and more aerodynamic profile than other compact multipurpose vehicles on European roads. The C-pillars feature what Ford calls a “flying buttress” design. The pillars act as spoilers, channeling airflow as close as possible to the tailgate glass for improved efficiency. c Nissan delays light commercial vans Richard Johnson rjohnson@crain.com GENEVA — Nissan has delayed the launch of its new range of U.S.-built light commercial vans. The U.S.-designed and engineered NV2500 multipurpose van will debut in the second half of next year. It was originally due in April 2010. “It is slowed because of the economic crisis, but only three to six months,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan Motor Co. senior vice president. Palmer said preparations for production are under way at Nissan’s Canton, Miss., plant. “The factory modifications are ongoing,” he said. “The extensions are going in now; the ground has been dug; the foundations are in.” The NV2500 concept debuted at a Nissan event just before the Detroit auto show in January. Palmer declined to forecast sales volume but said Nissan expects a healthy share of the 350,000-unit market. “We are coming with a brand new product, and the Econoline and Chevy Express aren’t the newest products on the block,” he said. Nissan expects to have 350 dealers handling commercial vehicles, about a third of its network. c For more information call now or visit our website! 407-478-7400 www.FleetToday.com Our sites have upgraded to the next generation of SEO. Has yours? 866.676.4190 www.dealerskins.com © Copyright 2009 Dominion Enterprises. All Rights Reserved. http://www.clickhereforadvice.com http://www.clickhereforadvice.com http://fleettoday.com http://fleettoday.com http://www.dealerskins.com http://www.dealerskins.com
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