| Amidst the less enthusiastic sales of the | | | | up to now, and said that the company was |
| Volkswagen brand in the U.S. this year, the | | | | hoping that planned new offices away from |
| German automaker has decided a reshuffle in | | | | Detroit, the centre of U.S. auto |
| its top management. Volkswagen has already | | | | manufacturing, would bring it closer to U.S. |
| lost $827 million in North America last year. | | | | consumers. |
| | | | |
| Stefan Jacoby, 49, who has earlier headed | | | | Volkswagen currently has only one factory in |
| global marketing and sales for the VW group, | | | | North America, in Puebla, Mexico. The plant |
| will become president and CEO of Volkswagen | | | | manufactures the Volkswagen Jetta and New |
| of America starting September 1. "The | | | | Beetle cars as well as buses and trucks. |
| objective is to achieve further significant | | | | |
| expansion in the position of Volkswagen and | | | | Volkswagen would produce more than 6 million |
| Audi on the U.S. market through attractive | | | | cars this year, up from 5.7 million in 2006, |
| and competitive products," VW said in a | | | | Winterkorn said. A goal of 10 percent higher |
| statement Thursday, last week. | | | | productivity was attainable this year, he |
| | | | added. |
| Jacoby is a former CEO of Mitsubishi Motors | | | | |
| Europe. As future CEO of VW of America, he | | | | The euro is near an all-time high against the |
| will succeed Frank Witter, 48, who is moving | | | | U.S. dollar and Japanese yen, making it |
| to Volkswagen Credit, where he will become | | | | difficult for European-made cars to compete |
| co-president, sharing the post with Kevin | | | | with those produced in the United States and |
| Kelly, 60. | | | | Japan and causing concern among some |
| | | | euro-zone politicians. |
| The news comes after the media has reported | | | | |
| that the German automaker and world's | | | | About Volkswagen of America |
| fourth-largest carmaker is currently mulling | | | | |
| over building a new North American factory if | | | | Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. |
| the dollar stays weak. Chief Executive Martin | | | | is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. |
| Winterkorn reportedly confirmed plans in an | | | | It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, |
| interview Saturday with German magazine | | | | headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. |
| Focus, saying, "If the dollar stays at its | | | | Volkswagen is one of the world's largest |
| current level, one has to consider a factory | | | | producers of passenger cars and Europe's |
| in North America very seriously." | | | | largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the |
| | | | Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, |
| Winterkorn also added that Volkswagen - maker | | | | GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, |
| of quality Volkswagen catalytic converter, | | | | and Touareg through approximately 600 |
| had not done very well in the United States | | | | independent U.S. dealers. |