VW Up! will only cost 900 euros to build - report

 VW Up! will only cost 900 euros to build - report
Volkswagen Up Range at Bologna Motor Show

Volkswagen is planning to markup th cost of the Volkswagen up! by as much as 1000%. A report in Autocar claims the diminutive car will be manufactured in India at a cost of roughly €900. The company will then turn around and sell the cars for roughly €9,000.

Of course, this does not factor in the additional costs of either import & export taxes, nor does it include shipping & transportation fees. These costs will certainly cut into VW's profit margin on the car. However, the company could just as easily add a "destination charge" on top of the sticker price to maximize their profits.

We first saw the Volkswagen up! in concept form during the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007. Volkswagen has since said they will produce as many as 1.4 million models of the up!, including versions badged under Audi, Seat and Skoda. Eventually, the company may accomodate customers looking for either an electric, hybrid, or four-door model. The company has in the past shown off concept versions of both a sedan and electric up!

Source: Autocar.co.uk

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 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
it is the same with the tata nano etc. when such cars hit the shores of europe or the US they have to fulfill higher standards (emmission, safety etc.) and get much more expensive. still a nice margin imho.
July 3, 2009 2:42 pm
 politz politz
Now that is all very plausible and possible... I mean, 900 euros can buy a whole lot of cardboard, right?
July 3, 2009 2:45 pm
 nathandavid88 nathandavid88
India? Didn't VW send out a press release saying they're gonna build them at Bratislava, Slovakia?
July 3, 2009 2:49 pm
 sideskraper sideskraper
900 cost to the manufacturer does not indicate the cost to the consumer. any idea how much the clothes you are wearing cost to manufacture? much less than ten times the price you paid.
July 3, 2009 3:15 pm
 noworkday noworkday
This has to be BS. I dont believe a single word autocar says anymore. Just bunch of rumors and inside "sources"
July 3, 2009 4:22 pm
 thamzn thamzn
Costs €900 and sells for €9,000? Wow.
July 3, 2009 4:41 pm
 CKApexpredator CKApexpredator
This is 100% False. VW has already issued a press release stating that the car will be built in Slovakia not India. You REALLY need to check your sources before you go shooting your mouth off!
July 3, 2009 8:26 pm
 norther norther
9000e for a 900e piece of c.ap car? are vw gettin greedy or what?
July 4, 2009 2:51 am
 BabyMilo BabyMilo
If it is true that the car only costs €900 to make, they should sell it for a small profit and they would sell lots of them
July 4, 2009 4:38 am
 EMBJATI85 EMBJATI85
i dont think these are comming to the states if they do then it be hella cool i love vws my dad had a type 3 notch and i wanna find me own id probly have to import it tho
July 4, 2009 6:25 am
 noworkday noworkday
I think WCF should stop refering to articles from autocar and autoexpress. there are too many stories, which never come true. autoblog once in a while already calls these guys "not the best source" Surely some do, but if you shoot out hundreds of "inside sources" some of them have to happen.
July 4, 2009 6:43 am
 thamzn thamzn
They do tell some incredible stories though, don't they?
July 4, 2009 7:25 am
 Twilightrider Twilightrider
VW's LUPO at 1000% mark up ?! Thank God for Tata's Nano! I really wonder just how the field will look in about 30 more months or so when the "dust" has had time to settle!
July 4, 2009 7:01 am
 mmr66 mmr66
RIP OFF
July 4, 2009 7:37 am
 ivanadrive ivanadrive
What a BS article. It does not include engineering and design cost, nor the cost to set up and maintain the production plant, marketing costs etc. Cars that compete on price (like the Up!) generally have a very small profit margin. VAG makes their profit from audis where a small increase in production cost (more expensive materials and technology) are sold for a much higher price.
July 5, 2009 9:02 am
 tbrodie tbrodie
I was just talking with a friend about a scenario like this. When one company starts off-shoring, others have to follow suit to be competitive. What, other than public relations and existing union contracts, is to keep auto manufacturers to move as much production as possible to India or China?
July 6, 2009 7:39 am
 msinisa msinisa
it is the right time to start production in China. VAG makes scirocco for 3.000 $ and the consumer pais it for 30.000 $.
July 6, 2009 8:10 am
 xasibe xasibe
A total rip off!!!
July 6, 2009 8:37 am
 alessandro alessandro
Once will be a time when it will be made for €4.50
July 6, 2009 10:37 am