CLIFF LEPPKE'S CYBER SEAT

VW’s New Direction; May Sales Rose 14%

VW debuts a new direction.  It kicks off a mea culpa, an apology for diesel scandal in  “Hello Light” TV spot airing during the NBA Finals.  This ad begins with a dark screen and audio clips from newscasts mentioning VW’s emissions skirting.  Then, we hear a music bed:  Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence.” It plays while we witness a tired, contemplative pencil twirling man initiate a spark—the creation of VW’s I.D. Buzz bus-like EV.  The spot, by Johannes Leonardo agency, ends with white words on the screen saying “In the darkness, we found light…Introducing a new era of electric driving.”

Europeans can preorder VW’s Golf-like ID.3 EV.  VWoA’s chief claims a new VW EV arrives late next year.

VW Posts Significant American Sales Increase

VW’s May 2019 sales climbed 14% (35,702) vs. last year.  VW’s Tiguan leads the pack (10,687; +25%), followed by the Jetta (9,653; +42%) and the Atlas (8,273; +111%).  It sold 245 newly available Arteons.  Passat sales slid 73% to 1,294. 

SUVs comprised 53% of VW’s U.S. sales. 

Audi Reports 2.2% Sales Decline

Audi posted another monthly sales dip.  It sold 18,822 units in the U.S. last month.  One reason for the slump is its Q3 crossover.  Its sales were down 99% to only 11 because the newly developed Q3 isn’t available in the States. 

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