Volkswagon Has A Clue

[fsdork]

The weight is driven by safety features not much by comfort features. If it was average enthusiasts that have track car weld be delight to shed 1000lbs by kicking out comfort features. But they cannot. People who use for example BMW 328 like mine just as track car can shed at most 300lbs including kicking out rear seats, all trunk and rear seat insulation, installing race seats which cut weight by 30lbs per front seat and straight flow exhaust which cuts weight by 65lbs.
So comfort features is really not big of an issue.

I'm not so sure that the track car market is one which most manufacturers are focusing on. It doesn't represent a significant portion of total annual sales.

Who’s Volkswagon?

Company that can swallow both GM and Ford and have money left for another cheating scandal.

I think Vercingetorix was making the point that the company name is spelled "Volkswagen", not suggesting they aren't a large company.

 

[4WD]

Volkswagon sees the writing on the wall regarding the EV market. They want to have a truly competitive EV on the market by 2026.They realize that to be competitive with Tesla, they are going to have to spend billions to modernize their factories for EV production and that may even include demolishing some existing factories and starting over.

This is probably a sound plan. However, 2026 is a long way away. Tesla has proven to be able to go from groundbreaking for a new factory to having the first vehicles rolling off the assembly line in just one year. Will VW or any other automaker be able to do that ? By 2026 how many more factories will Tesla have operational around the world ? 3 or 4 I can imagine. And they will likely have several sub- $30k vehicles in their lineup.

Volkswagon is rightfully concerned about where the market will be in just a few years and is getting ready to make major commitments of resources to be a major player. I hope they succeed as competition is good for the consumer. Toyota may be in trouble, it doesn't look like their solid state batteries are going to be viable, at least not for many years and millions of dollars of development.

The big question is will the US automakers have the capitol to go whole hog like VW plans on doing ? Or by 2026 will they still be living in the 1980's and producing some mediocre EV's and hoping for brand loyalty and government (i.e taxpayer) bailouts to keep them in business ?

No matter what they do … I think your opinion is already formed …

 

[thastinger]

The weight is driven by safety features not much by comfort features. If it was average enthusiasts that have track car weld be delight to shed 1000lbs by kicking out comfort features. But they cannot. People who use for example BMW 328 like mine just as track car can shed at most 300lbs including kicking out rear seats, all trunk and rear seat insulation, installing race seats which cut weight by 30lbs per front seat and straight flow exhaust which cuts weight by 65lbs.
So comfort features is really not big of an issue.

Look up a Polaris Slingshot, it weighs 1700 pounds, can carry 2 people and is road legal (so it passed the safety specs) with reports of 50+MPG (rated 45MPG). It doesn't have any "creature comforts" though, no A/C, no 11 inch infotainment system, no heated leather seats, no cooled seats etc.

I was addressing the OPs desire for great MPG and comfort. You can have one or the other.

 

[philipp10]

I just hope somebody retains the ability(factory tools etc) to make ICE's for when the electric fad starts to fade.

haha....sarcastic? I'm an older guy and I prefer ICE. But the young generation has no interest in ICE cars. In 25 years I doubt there will be more than 20% ICE cars being produced.

 

[KCJeep]

I realize that but if you did a poll here it would be obvious. Of course many makers are guilty of making Crap. Seems VW is held more accountable.
When they introduced the Atlas they did so with a great warranty.
Didn't they shortly after reduce that warranty?

The "People First" warranty as it was called, was primarily about getting buyers back on the lots after the smear of diesel gate. They ran it two years then went back to more standard with competitors.

I hear a lot about companies moving to all electric, but I'm betting by 2024 or 25 we'll also see some back pedaling. The grid is just not going to be there. And there's a large group of people that will no more be forced into electric than they will the Covid shot. When companies see there are still a lot of sales to be had ICE they are going to want to keep their piece.

 

[vw7674]

The weight is driven by safety features not much by comfort features. If it was average enthusiasts that have track car weld be delight to shed 1000lbs by kicking out comfort features. But they cannot. People who use for example BMW 328 like mine just as track car can shed at most 300lbs including kicking out rear seats, all trunk and rear seat insulation, installing race seats which cut weight by 30lbs per front seat and straight flow exhaust which cuts weight by 65lbs.
So comfort features is really not big of an issue.

the comfort features of all that sound insulation & sound attenuation of the factory exhaust are what the comfort is derived from.
to say almost nothing about the seventeen-way adjustable heated/cooled comfort seats.
& the fourteen speaker stereo. Gotta have that. And the A/C for when it's humid out............
out on the straight highway we all want LOADED autos. Not rollbars & coilovers.

 

[finmile]

I hear a lot about companies moving to all electric, but I'm betting by 2024 or 25 we'll also see some back pedaling. The grid is just not going to be there. And there's a large group of people that will no more be forced into electric than they will the Covid shot. When companies see there are still a lot of sales to be had ICE they are going to want to keep their piece.

In Europe there’s definitely an EV boom (and Tesla and Volkswagen are the best sellers). Also in China EVs have big momentum.

I’d want an EV for myself also, but the prices aren’t there yet. That’s why the EVs are rich men’s toys at the moment. But prices will come eventually down, ten years will make wonders. You must remember that it’s ramp up period going on now. I expect that EVs will be cheaper than ICEs by 2030.

 

[RooflessVW]

I realize that but if you did a poll here it would be obvious. Of course many makers are guilty of making Crap. Seems VW is held more accountable.
When they introduced the Atlas they did so with a great warranty.
Didn't they shortly after reduce that warranty?

And? They have the same warranty as all but a few outliers now. I used the warranty on my Atlas one time. What I had fixed would have been maybe $200 out of warranty.

People "here" rarely form their own opinions and prefer to parrot others' as their own. German cars = bad. Japanese cars = good.

 

[Anon9283]

Interesting times ahead! We are nearing an inflection point in automotive industry.
I am more interested in changing worldwide energy demands and infrastructure delivery.
Opportunity abounds!

Right?! People keep complaining that CA already has brownouts how could they support mass EVs. I mean isn’t this the PERFECT opportunity to revamp our extremely dated infrastructure??

 

[gregk24]

I hope they succeed. We enjoy our VW's and would like to own one for years to come.

 

[Zee09]

And? They have the same warranty as all but a few outliers now. I used the warranty on my Atlas one time. What I had fixed would have been maybe $200 out of warranty.

People "here" rarely form their own opinions and prefer to parrot others' as their own. German cars = bad. Japanese cars = good.

My treat next week at Lumberton BK.

 

[RooflessVW]

My treat next week at Lumberton BK.

Actually the Fire Dept is doing BBQ plates on 11/5 if you want some good food.

It'll be the first one with the hangar complete so we'll probably let them use it.

 

[4WD]

Actually the Fire Dept is doing BBQ plates on 11/5 if you want some good food.

It'll be the first one with the hangar complete so we'll probably let them use it.

Man, love our Fire Dept fund raisers: BBQ, fried chicken, CF steak, and yes, in season - fried oysters !
(basic health food, right)

 

[edyvw]

Look up a Polaris Slingshot, it weighs 1700 pounds, can carry 2 people and is road legal (so it passed the safety specs) with reports of 50+MPG (rated 45MPG). It doesn't have any "creature comforts" though, no A/C, no 11 inch infotainment system, no heated leather seats, no cooled seats etc.

I was addressing the OPs desire for great MPG and comfort. You can have one or the other.

Yes you can get comfortable vehicles and mpg. BMW 330 M Sport gets in the real world 42mpg, has M tuned suspension, etc. etc.

 

[edyvw]

I'm not so sure that the track car market is one which most manufacturers are focusing on. It doesn't represent a significant portion of total annual sales.



I think Vercingetorix was making the point that the company name is spelled "Volkswagen", not suggesting they aren't a large company.

I was not talking track market. I am making a point that removing comfort features saves 300lbs in this case, not 1000 or more.

 

[wdn]

Hmm, do you actually know how big VW is? What mandates are you talking about?

Yes I know VW is big in other countries and yes, I know VW has a 2 percent market share in the United States.

This mandate:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michae...combustion-powered-cars-suvs/?sh=233d50267a67

Ursula von der Leyen has admitted for the first time that the European Union’s administrative body will give its automakers a stop-sale date for internal-combustion power in Europe.


The move, which is will effectively mandate electric-vehicle (EV) and hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV) power in Europe, is likely to be between 2030 and 2035.

 

[edyvw]

Yes I know VW is big in other countries and yes, I know VW has a 2 percent market share in the United States.

This mandate:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michae...combustion-powered-cars-suvs/?sh=233d50267a67

So why the market share in the US stops VW to do something?
Politics does not work that way, but if there is a mandate that will be set in stone, it is bcs. manufacturers negotiated that date with politicians. The auto industry employs the biggest number of people in Germany, and Germany is the largest EU economy. So do you really think they do not have a say in this? ccccccc

 

[wdn]

So why the market share in the US stops VW to do something?
Politics does not work that way, but if there is a mandate that will be set in stone, it is bcs. manufacturers negotiated that date with politicians. The auto industry employs the biggest number of people in Germany, and Germany is the largest EU economy. So do you really think they do not have a say in this? ccccccc

The tiny market share in the US does not stop VW from doing something or anything. However tiny 2 percent market share held by Volkswagen does mean that whatever VW does (because the EU tells them to do so), that does not influence what GM does here in the United States. Likewise EU mandates, that have no effect in the United States, do not influence what GM does either.

I am responding to this question by OP:

The big question is will the US automakers have the capitol to go whole hog like VW plans on doing ?

 

[Vercingetorix]

Funny how people equate VW and market share in the US. Maybe instead of market share people should look at profit margin?

 

[edyvw]

The tiny market share in the US does not stop VW from doing something or anything. However tiny 2 percent market share held by Volkswagen does mean that whatever VW does (because the EU tells them to do so), that does not influence what GM does here in the United States. Likewise EU mandates, that have no effect in the United States, do not influence what GM does either.

I am responding to this question by OP:

EU is not going to tell anything to VW without VW already having their hands in creating that mandate. I mean, I do not think you understand politics.
EU mandate will have a huge effect on the US. Same as other European mandates had. EU is 450 million people market. FCA is actually an Italian-American-French company. GM thought a lot of things do not influence them, and then guess what happened?