In the first half of 2008, Germany’s Volkswagen over took Ford as the world’s third largest carmaker in terms of vehicle sales. VW’s sales to dealers rose 7.2 percent to 3.31 million vehicles, whereas Ford’s sales were at 3.22 million.
Ford’s figures also include about 125,000 Land Rover and Jaguar sales up until those two automakers were sold to Tata Motors in early June.
It’s worth noting that the automakers reported sales to dealers – wholesale sales – which can sometimes be a little tough to read as automakers will occasionally push more vehicles on dealers than they can realistically sell to customers. Ford only uses wholesale figures, whereas Volkswagen also reported actual retail sales for the same period of 3.27 million vehicles, according to Reuters.
Regardless, the figures indicate both Ford’s difficulties and Volkswagen’s recent successes.
08/29, 9:27 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
A company focused on fuel effieient small cars who has been improving quality and has some of the best interiors on the market overtaking a lazy oafish automaker who only wants to focus on pick-up trucks and SUVs? Who didn’t see that one coming?
08/29, 10:42 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Herbie the Love Bug just left Mustang Sally’s ass in the weeds.
08/29, 12:15 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Maybe Ford shouldn’t have let iHustle go after all…
08/29, 1:15 PM
posted by:
ktulu
VWs have personality
08/29, 1:23 PM
posted by:
murderedout
The first half don’t mean jack LLN!
08/29, 2:01 PM
posted by:
wHitE rL
Not surprised one bit.
08/29, 2:23 PM
posted by:
123sub
Most people look at the car the same way i look at washing machines. Useful, and a nust have, but really interrested in the product itself, as long as it does the job.VW is boring cars for the average mass. Golf, Passat………god there are many boring people in this world.
08/29, 4:03 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
How sad and humiliating for Ford.
08/29, 5:01 PM
posted by:
crackerhemi
Imports are the majority!
08/29, 10:40 PM
posted by:
maxcar
there are many boring washing machine cars out there. veedub doesn’t even come close to that catagory.
08/30, 9:19 AM
posted by:
abbbb
you call buggati veyron and lamborghini washing machine cars?????
08/30, 9:50 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
VW is one of those bittersweet companies – a sea of stupid cars (Beetle, Jetta, Passat) punctuated by moments of brilliance like the GTi, all underpinned by horrific quality but quirky interiors.
When they decide to fiz their quality issues, VW will gravitate to the #2 spot.
08/30, 9:51 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
fix
08/30, 11:41 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I think what 123Sub means is that when people shop for cars, they have no clue about what they are doing. All they have is a payment they can afford, the amount of operative energy they would like it to spend, and a color in mind that matches their house. Most people don’t buy the fancy red front-loaders with blue and yellow LEDs and multi-function displays. They don’t go for the ones that can wash your shoes or steam your clothes, or the ones with the auto water level meters and white LEDs on the inside of both units. They don’t have a particular brand in mind or a function in mind. And so they just say, “Well, this one washes the clothes and gets the job done, and it’s cheap, green and here, so let’s get it.” Or rather, “Well, I don’t want to spend more time looking, and this one looks like it will work. I like the color, it’s here, it’s cheap, so let’s get it.”
I agree that VW doesn’t make what I would consider boring cars, but others might. Many people just buy the basics because they don’t know better. I felt the same about washing machines, too, until I actually got a good one. Then, it became a very different story…
Let’s hope more people fall into the good ones…
09/02, 2:11 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Just wait till they bring over some of our Euro counterparts. The Focus ST, Fiesta great cars to bring peopl eback to Ford.
09/02, 2:21 PM
posted by:
jsabbagh
This does not suprise me at all. The VW line is smart, Well engineered and the interiors are
comparable to cars twice there cost. The older Jetta and Passat were the best looking pair off cars.
I have owned two VW’s, a 2004 Jetta and a 200 GTI and both were superb.