With Detroit watching Japan and Korea, is anyone watching the Germans?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Struggling Big Three auto makers, accustomed to intense competition from their Japanese rivals, face a new challenge from European auto makers.

Sensing opportunity in Detroit's weakness, Volkswagen AG and BMW AG of Germany are gearing up to expand market share in the U.S. in the next few years.

VW is investing in its first U.S. factory in two decades and expects to triple U.S. sales to one million vehicles by 2018. BMW is introducing a new small car and expanding its distribution network.

"The U.S. will be the growth engine of the future," Jim O'Donnell, BMW's U.S. chief, said in a recent interview. "This is where we will continue to focus our efforts."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123110372170452019.html

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Struggling Big Three auto makers, accustomed to intense competition from their Japanese rivals, face a new challenge from European auto makers.

Sensing opportunity in Detroit's weakness, Volkswagen AG and BMW AG of Germany are gearing up to expand market share in the U.S. in the next few years.

VW is investing in its first U.S. factory in two decades and expects to triple U.S. sales to one million vehicles by 2018. BMW is introducing a new small car and expanding its distribution network.

"The U.S. will be the growth engine of the future," Jim O'Donnell, BMW's U.S. chief, said in a recent interview. "This is where we will continue to focus our efforts."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123110372170452019.html

How much of a dent are they going to put in the sales of Japanese and American cars? VW are more expensive and less fuel efficent and reliable than the Japanese cars. BMW has their market segment well established and probably hurts Mercedes sales, IMHO.

[mawilson 2,133]

With Detroit watching Japan and Korea, is anyone watching the Germans?

I am vatsching zee Germanz.

[NickD 203]

With Detroit watching Japan and Korea, is anyone watching the Germans?

I am vatsching zee Germanz.

Dang parts for those things are way too expensive, and sometimes have to wait three months to get them, plus the USA charges a stiff tariff on those parts. And not only for Germany, but France, and the UK as well. Can kind of understand Germany, didn't we have a war with them at one time? But France and the UK were our allies. I do not think this was true of China, Japan, and Korea, but they are sure getting the breaks.

Also understand some of those European countries give a woman a year off with pay when having a kid, and even their husbands can join them, here, a woman has to do that during her break. When we buy those cars, we are paying for that.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Struggling Big Three auto makers, accustomed to intense competition from their Japanese rivals, face a new challenge from European auto makers.

Sensing opportunity in Detroit's weakness, Volkswagen AG and BMW AG of Germany are gearing up to expand market share in the U.S. in the next few years.

VW is investing in its first U.S. factory in two decades and expects to triple U.S. sales to one million vehicles by 2018. BMW is introducing a new small car and expanding its distribution network.

"The U.S. will be the growth engine of the future," Jim O'Donnell, BMW's U.S. chief, said in a recent interview. "This is where we will continue to focus our efforts."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123110372170452019.html

How much of a dent are they going to put in the sales of Japanese and American cars? VW are more expensive and less fuel efficent and reliable than the Japanese cars. BMW has their market segment well established and probably hurts Mercedes sales, IMHO.

IMO, the Polo (not generally available in US/Canada, but ubiquitous in Europe) could hit at Corolla/Yaris and Sentra.

[mnieto 2]

yu betta vatsch us..

Edited January 5, 2009 by mnieto

[Nagishkaw 510]

I just watch Detroit.