Topic: 2011 Volkswagen Amarok

[Ontariodriver]

I think VW are bit late on this one. Pretty iffy that NA going to get this truck anyway. It reminds me a lot of the NA Trucks. Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/112_1003_2011_volkswagen_amarok_first_drive/index.html

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/06/is-the-volkswagen-amarok-coming-to-america.html

Posted by Mike Levine | June 4, 2009

Now that we've learned that Volkswagen is going to name its upcoming pickup "Amarok," after the Inuit word for "wolf," does the automaker from Wolfsburg, Germany, also have plans to sell it in the U.S.?

A quick search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office application database reveals that VW has already registered the Amarok name (USPTO serial No. 79043414) for use in this country, even though VW has only announced plans to sell the truck in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

One potential hurdle to U.S. sales of the Amarok is the so-called "chicken tax" that adds a 25 percent federal import tax to most foreign-built pickups. The Amarok will be built at VW's manufacturing plant in Pacheco, Argentina.

The term "chicken tax" originated in the early '60s during a trade dispute between the U.S. and Europe over U.S.-imported chickens, which were slapped with a special tax to protect West German farmers. The U.S. responded by slapping a 25 percent tariff on trucks imported from Europe.

[vdk]

Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

Yes. And how well does that sell?

[rrocket]

Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

Yes. And how well does that sell?

Not terrible I suppose.  For the furst 3 years they were on sale, about 50,000 a year in the USA.  I'd hardly call that a dud. 

[vdk]

Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

Yes. And how well does that sell?

Not terrible I suppose.  For the furst 3 years they were on sale, about 50,000 a year in the USA.  I'd hardly call that a dud. 

738 sold in the States in January, 982 in February.


There's little demand for something like this even when you disregard the 25% tax.

[rrocket]

Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

Yes. And how well does that sell?

Not terrible I suppose.  For the furst 3 years they were on sale, about 50,000 a year in the USA.  I'd hardly call that a dud. 

738 sold in the States in January, 982 in February.


There's little demand for something like this even when you disregard the 25% tax.

Yep...it's definitely slowed up.  But ~150,000 sold isn't terrible IMO, but it will never be confused with a high volume seller.

[initial_D]

Look wise, not bad. But what does it do?

Will take a Subie Baja over it.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I quite like it, offers a diesel, and reasonably capable too. Like the Taco as well, but have hated the interior comfort, seat position (on the floor), and space. Know VW does this well, so it'd be a good alternative.

If I lived in the country (which I may in the future), would seriously consider it.

Too bad it's not available here, think it would find a decent sales pace.

[Ontariodriver]

Honda Ridgeline come to mind to name but a few.

Yes. And how well does that sell?

Not well and not because it was a bad truck.  I think it was more the flat bed that was at issue. It wasn't really a work truck in the same way the GMC avalanche isn't either. It was more of toy. Honda did amazing job. But Honda were going up against GM, Ford and Dodges fine pick-ups and the buyers are die hard brand loyalist. I think VW will be shooting themselves in the foot on this one too. If it every reaches NA shores. Which I doubt it will.

[Ice]

If they do bring it to North America you can bet they won't expect to sell that many for several years to come.  It'd have to be a long term potential investment more than anything.

VW does sell to many other markets around the world so having a reasonably good truck in the lineup can't be a bad thing. Even if it doesn't do well here.

[johngenx]

It's in the "not really a truck" truck category.  Like the Honda, it might have some initial sales, but I see this flopping.

Toyota has long been a pretty strong player in the truck market, and even they have struggled against the Big Three in trucks.  Toyota long ago figured out that their trucks had to be, well, real trucks.  It's taken a long time, but today I know lots of contractors and others that use their trucks as work vehicles that consider Toyota a credible player.  Honda?  No.

So, take out a large percentage of your total market, and try to sell to the rest?  Good luck.  The Ridgeline was a gamble, and good on Honda for going for it, but I hope VW is setting their numbers goals very low.

[ktm525]

Bed is too short to be practical. About 5' is the minimum to haul dirtbikes etc (with gate down). Add more bed length and offer a diesel....

[airbalancer]

It's in the "not really a truck" truck category.  Like the Honda, it might have some initial sales, but I see this flopping.

Toyota has long been a pretty strong player in the truck market, and even they have struggled against the Big Three in trucks.  Toyota long ago figured out that their trucks had to be, well, real trucks.  It's taken a long time, but today I know lots of contractors and others that use their trucks as work vehicles that consider Toyota a credible player.  Honda?  No.

So, take out a large percentage of your total market, and try to sell to the rest?  Good luck.  The Ridgeline was a gamble, and good on Honda for going for it, but I hope VW is setting their numbers goals very low.

Since this truck is not really made for US & Canada. not much point really talking about
This would be a very common style that I have seen  in Mexico, Central & South America over the last 15 years