Comments on: Volkswagen to target “lucrative market niches”

By: europerspective

europerspective — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:49:45 +0000

1234, I recreate outside whenever I get a chance… nothing like a sandy crack on a moonlit night, wind whipping around your naughty bits

By: Get Real

Get Real — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 20:18:44 +0000

Isn’t this “niche” a way of admitting (in a positive light) that your cars don’t sell well, and you can only become a boutique dealer of poor quality merchanise?

By: SSTRFSTR

SSTRFSTR — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:39:06 +0000

Diesels! Diesels! Diesels!
That’s how you tap a growing niche market, in the US at least.

By: 1234

1234 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:29:01 +0000

This is good news if true because VW has been ignoring one of it’s already well established “lucrative market niches” for almost a couple of decades now – the Vanagan / Westphalia pop-up camper market. There is actually a HUGE and potentially very lucrative market niche for these vans. Incredibly, almost 17 years after the last one was imported into the US, those vans that are still functional continue to sell like hot cakes among outdoor and VW enthusiasts.

A 1991 AWD VW Westphalia remains one of the most in demand vehicles for people who recreate outside. Affluent buyers who are also climbers, kayakers, skiiers, hikers, mt bikers or just VW camper van enthusiasts have been keeping the used market for these vans hot for years. VW has continued to produce and sell these pop-top campers across the world as Eurovans – complete with diesel engines and AWD however in spite of the pleas of buyers and for some other unknown insane reason, VW has stubbornly refused to import these vans for the US market. The continuing demand for the smaller pop-top campers has created an entire cottage industry producing parts and even $7k Subaru engine upgrades in an effort to keep these vans on the road.

VW doesn’t need to “establish” a new niche market – there’s already one here that is earnestly waiting to buy their product. Come on VW – wake up and give us those vans!

By: europerspective

europerspective — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 07:04:26 +0000

I’m sure he is talking about something along the lines of an example set by Toyota and emulated by other mainstream manufacturers. Vehicles like the MR2, Scion models and The RAV4 are examples of how mainstream manufacturers can target niches effectively.

VW has missed out on some recent trends; they were very late with the small MPV, and they were not able to get into the small hard-top convertible market to compete with Peugeot’s 206CC, the Nissan Micra and Vauxhall Tigra.

I imagine what he’s talking about is ensuring that they latch onto these new trends quicker in future.

By: Piablo

Piablo — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:15:21 +0000

Naggs – It’s very possible to make money on $20 to $30K niche vehicles. The solstice is proof of that. However, VW is not going for that type of niche. “The plan aims to boost profit while shrinking capacity.” In order to accomplish this, vehicle prices need to rise. The only way to discount a vehicle is through economies of scale. They need to sell volume in order to spread the R&D costs enough to make a car affordable.

Who knows, maybe the move only involves consolidating factories and eliminating the leftovers. This would not effect volume. But “niche” vehicles causes me to believe the latter.

So much for Volkswagen ~~ The People’s Car.

By: 1966_GTO_

1966_GTO_ — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:13:29 +0000

VW’s should not cost over $40k. There is no market for them above that…

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:08:03 +0000

The Phaeton was an overweight cow. Ugh. I am sure you can pick them up for cheap second hand.

By: naggs

naggs — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:54:11 +0000

is “lucrative market niches” the same as “upmarket niches”?

is there really no way a company can make money on a $20-30 niche product?

By: naggs

naggs — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:46:12 +0000

“lucrative market niches”

sounds like a good strategy, people are willing to pay more if you give them what they want. for example i have been waiting for a lightweight rwd minimalist coupe for ten years (i had high hopes for the dodge razor) but noone wants to make it because it wont sell a bagillion a year. at this point i would settle for a stripped out version of an overweight 350z or mustang if thats my only hope.

modern flexable manufacturing will only increase the profit margines for companies willing to step out of their comfort zone and deliver on niche products

By: auto_industrialist

auto_industrialist — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:38:06 +0000

anyone that thinks VW will not succeed in ‘niche’ markets has no education in marketing.

I’m a marketing major and this is exactly what VW needs to do. Trust me, the whole desperate for power and presence baby boomer generation is fading! give way to the young and the wealthy

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:28:26 +0000

The Phaeton is an outstanding car. The reason it did not sell and was withdrawn from North America is because it doesn’t have a premium badge, and the overwhelming stupidity of those who can’t look past that. But the Phaeton is brilliant.

By: Syrax

Syrax — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:08:28 +0000

even that ass all-non-british-hater jeremy clarkson said it was a great car…

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:07:43 +0000

Winter-korn? What a lousy last name. Is it the opposite of Summer-squash?

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:06:58 +0000

Also Winterkorn’s comments helps explain VW snagging Lotus.

By: Syrax

Syrax — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:05:59 +0000

and to remind everyone…they dropped the phaeton ONLY in the states… europe and the whole world still get it.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:05:41 +0000

Walter de Silva has got his work cut out for him: if you look at his body of work he has a design schtick.

By: Syrax

Syrax — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:03:21 +0000

i get pissed with this too. a coupe has to be a 2 door car, period.

By: norsairius

norsairius — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:00:32 +0000

^ I agree with Renton. There is a market for that car. Just keep it relatively cheap. I personally liked it a lot.

By: atomicbri

atomicbri — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:00:20 +0000

VW against Mercedes?? Not again, I thought VW learned the lesson with the Phaeton…In the states VW is known as a good for the money German car, not a Mercedes, so they need to stop that line of thinking. Even in Europe, VW is considered a premium, but a premium hatch/family car. I don’t mind better styling or more innovative styling, but Audi should be the Mercedes/BMW Competitor, not VW.

By: Renton

Renton — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:44:47 +0000

GX3 — that is niche. Make it.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:38:02 +0000

You might as well forget the Passat coupe, it was supposed to be one of those so-called 4 door coupes like a Mercedes CLS class. I’m comprehensively unimpressed, I know the coupe/sedan distinction has to do with interior space, but you know what, if you’re gonna call it a coupe, make sure its got 2 doors. Don’t bother trying to market a 4 door vehicle as a coupe, it just confuses the issue.

By: sampson

sampson — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:08:16 +0000

small RWD coupe with backseats would be an awesome niche to fill VW!!

By: YourNameHere

YourNameHere — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:06:29 +0000

VW should not sell a car over 40,000. no jetta/rabiit should go over 25k. we better be getting that twincharger engine!

By: Bush

Bush — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:01:53 +0000

Up market VW’s? What is Audi? Drop Audi? This is more BS like the Phaeton (though it was a nice car it only looked like a Passat in steriods). They are trying to push VW into something which it is not. Great cars, fun to drive etc. Focus in the long term quality first.

By: 6ix

6ix — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:55:45 +0000

Passat coupe? How did I not hear of this before???

By: Syrax

Syrax — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:53:27 +0000

passat coupe? cancelled? why?

By: SRT-4Ken

SRT-4Ken — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:39:11 +0000

—–>what i’m thinkin is how in the world will they re-invent the VW Beetle a few more blocks down the road?………..but then again, i forgot about the Porsche 911….