While other car makers reported a steady rise in sales across the US this year, Volkswagen US sales have taken a beating following the emission scandal that has rocked the company these past few months. Volkswagen sales were less than 24,000 units in November with Golf and Passat models being the most affected.
Following Environmental Protection Agency’s report on the Volkswagen diesel cheating device, the company has been in the midst of scandal. Two months later the effects are still being noted. Sales stood at 23,882 in November, 8,000 units or 24.7% lower than sales in November 2014.
The VW Golf and Passat are the worst hit of all the VW models in the US.
Golf and Passat sales dipped 64% and 60% respectively, while total sales of the company from the start of this year till November stood at 318,484 units as against 332,912 units sold in the same period of the previous year (negative growth of 4.3%). The company has admitted to fitting up to 11 million diesel cars worldwide with this cheating software and have vowed to rectify wrong doings in due course.
In an attempt to mitigate the damages and earn the customer trust, VW USA has announced USD 1000 (around INR 67,000) worth gift vouchers to owners of the affected diesel cars. Half of that value can be used to purchase anything anywhere while the other half can be used at any of VW Group’s US outlets for free servicing, down payment for new vehicle, new set of tyres, accessories, etc.
