Date:         Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:05:40 -0600
Reply-To:     Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 2013 California
In-Reply-To:  <CAFnDXk0hZKeTeb_gO3a5aL+Ck8uzuTi=XBT2pmFqkUvUhN1cmQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Interesting speculations. Here's mine: There isn't a market here in the U.S. for a high-priced, full-sized van. There might be one for a moderately priced minivan, but the T5 is not a minivan. It would compete class-wise with domestic full-size vans, which is to say it would never sell. A new Ford E-series runs about $30K. The base VW Multivan costs over $40K in Germany, and likely as much here even if manufactured stateside. A camper conversion would only add to the price, and it would appeal to a very limited consumer base.

It's not just VW. Toyota and Nissan (among others) have vans exported worldwide that are not sold here in the U.S. They're not sold here largely because there's not enough demand to warrant the costs of making those vehicles meet US standards.  

-Jarrett
Armchair marketing analyst

On Feb 12, 2013, at 3:24 PM, Jim Felder wrote:

> I heard somewhere from someone purporting to know that there was an old labor
> agreement that volkswagen truck chassis would be made only in Germany by
> German workers. 

>> What about a T5 built in Chattanooga, TN next to the Passat line?