New US Volkswagen Plant May Build Cayenne

Volkswagen has set some high goals and intends to reach them, in part, with a new production plant in the United States. German newspaper Handelsblatt reported today that the 150,000 unit plant may produce, besides a new VW Jetta and an all-new Passat-sized sedan, the Touareg, Q7 or Cayenne who all share the same platform. VW spokesman Andreas Meurer told Automotive News that "when we discuss whether to build the [VW] Touareg and [Audi] Q7 in the USA, we also talk about the Cayenne."

Other Audi models may also be build at the new plant along side the Volkswagen models. Volkswagen plans two US specific models, a larger Jetta codenamed NCS (New Compact Sedan) which doubles as a precursor for the next generation Jetta, and an entry-level Passat codenamed NMS (New Medium Sedan).

The new facility will be built in either Alabama, Tennesee or Michigan. The final decision will be taken mid-July by Volkswagen where the second, the first is in Puebla, Mexico, North American plant will be based. Volkswagen hopes to sell 800,000 annually in the US by 2018 so this new plant is an absolute necessity especially now that the Euro is so strong versus the US dollar.