I have said it before, the reason Toyota sells 6 or 7 times the vehicles VW sells in the American market, is customer service and variety of models. VW not only has to bring all its models here, but it also needs to launch them here.
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The reality is that no car company can be everything to everyone.
Honda does well in Asia and the US but not so well in Europe.
Toyota also does well in Asia and NA but not as well in the EU. When I lived in Germany I had one colleague that had a Toyota and complained that, although the car was reliable, the fuel consumption was too high. Toyota, apparently, does not design a car for $8.00/gallon fuel. For ~$3.50/gallon fuel in the US, they do well. Again, you cannot be ideal for every market.
VW does well in the EU, Mexico, Brazil and was, until recent years, the largest selling brand in China but not so strong in the US.
I think the reason is that their cars traditionally have not been designed for US customers who generally want large and cheap cars. They have, in recent years offered more vehicles in this direction ( US Passat, model, Atlas and Jetta) specifically for Americans. These vehicles have been relatively successful here but, frankly, lack much of what makes VWs popular with enthusiasts or Europeans.
VW had a difficult time selling the excellent Golf in the US but they now make cheaper small SUVs for American ( Tiquan, Taos) which, are largely unappealing to traditional VW buyers should do well here because they are, well, relatively cheap.
Toyota has been making such vehicles for a long time in the US. Excellent road appliances. Reliable and frugal.
To the OP's point on part shortages. They are real. All companies have had to deal with the shortage of computer chips and companies with numerous brands, such as VW, steered the available chips and parts to higher margin brands within the family. In this case Audi and Porsche. In addition, the war in Ukraine has impacted supply of components as many suppliers to EU car brands produce in Eastern Europe because of the difference in labor costs.
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Honda does well in Asia and the US but not so well in Europe.
Toyota also does well in Asia and NA but not as well in the EU. When I lived in Germany I had one colleague that had a Toyota and complained that, although the car was reliable, the fuel consumption was too high. Toyota, apparently, does not design a car for $8.00/gallon fuel. For ~$3.50/gallon fuel in the US, they do well. Again, you cannot be ideal for every market.
VW does well in the EU, Mexico, Brazil and was, until recent years, the largest selling brand in China but not so strong in the US.
I think the reason is that their cars traditionally have not been designed for US customers who generally want large and cheap cars. They have, in recent years offered more vehicles in this direction ( US Passat, model, Atlas and Jetta) specifically for Americans. These vehicles have been relatively successful here but, frankly, lack much of what makes VWs popular with enthusiasts or Europeans.
VW had a difficult time selling the excellent Golf in the US but they now make cheaper small SUVs for American ( Tiquan, Taos) which, are largely unappealing to traditional VW buyers should do well here because they are, well, relatively cheap.
Toyota has been making such vehicles for a long time in the US. Excellent road appliances. Reliable and frugal.
To the OP's point on part shortages. They are real. All companies have had to deal with the shortage of computer chips and companies with numerous brands, such as VW, steered the available chips and parts to higher margin brands within the family. In this case Audi and Porsche. In addition, the war in Ukraine has impacted supply of components as many suppliers to EU car brands produce in Eastern Europe because of the difference in labor costs.
You might be joking. But yes, even mighty Tesla had supply chain issues.
Elon Musk says pandemic supply-chain issues and a global microchip shortage resulted in 'insane difficulties' for Tesla
"We've had some of the most difficult supply chain challenges that we've ever experienced in the life of Tesla," Musk said, citing the chip shortage.
www.businessinsider.com
Nice spin when records sales and production were broken during Covid times. True a shortage but overcame the difficulties.You might be joking. But yes, even mighty Tesla had supply chain issues.
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Elon Musk says pandemic supply-chain issues and a global microchip shortage resulted in 'insane difficulties' for Tesla
"We've had some of the most difficult supply chain challenges that we've ever experienced in the life of Tesla," Musk said, citing the chip shortage.
Tesla Vs Chip Shortage: In-House Strategies Come To The Rescue
A shortage of computer chips forced some automakers to suspend production for extended periods, but Tesla somehow seemed to sidestep the whole crisis.
insideevs.com
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