Plans to make an SUV version of the Amarok are currently on hold within Volkswagen, the company has confirmed.
Despite initial interest in the idea of building a robust Landcruiser-style seven-seater on the Amarok's ladder-frame platform, VW bosses are waiting to see how the regional markets develop.
There is also a suspicion that the SUV sector may become saturated with products. “Across the group we already make the Touareg, the Cayenne, the Q7, the Q5 and Tiguan,” said VW Group financial boss Klaus-Dieter Schurmann.
“That's five cars in this class. You could say, do we really need another?”
The company is keen to sell the Amarok in the US and exploit the country’s very strong pick-up market, but still has some important issues to resolve.
For example, the extra demand could not currently be met by the factory in Pacheco, the only VW plant to use the platform.
Bosses are also convinced that only after they have expanded the dealer network in the vast US market can VW successfully sell the vehicle. “You eat an elephant slice by slice,” said Schurmann.
Ed Keohane
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Re: VW Amarok SUV on hold
“You eat an elephant slice by slice,”
right!, that's a f$%&* truth!
for this one take the US shores, yep, first they need to expand the dealer network and after that be competitive they need to use their US factory, and try to build them in a CKD basis.
Re: VW Amarok SUV on hold
Not what I'd heard at all - they've so far been quite adamant that they wouldn't sell it in the US. They would have to pay extortionate import tarrifs too, as the US taxes pickups built outside US, Canada and Mexico an extra 30% or so. (This is being built in Argentina)
However, I like the idea of a "back to basics" SUV version that has proper off-road abilities. Just don't sell them in London ;)