Volks grows twice as much as the market in dispute for leadership
Gazeta Mercantil 04/09/2009
After registering an increase of 8.5% (151,733 licensed cars) in the first quarter - a result twice greater than the growth of the Brazilian car market, which registered a 4% growth in the period -, the goal of Volkswagen do Brasil is to keep, this year, the leadership in the sales of cars in the Country. "Volkswagen's result is being better than the market's and we will work in order to keep the rhythm of growth", said Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen do Brasil, to a group of journalists. According to Schmall, what helped Volkswagen to reach the leadership in the Country was the fast reaction in deciding on the launchings and the adjustment in the product to meet the consumer's desires. "We have planned the launching of 16 products for Brazil this year", said Schmall.
According to him, the secret for a company to be able to face the current crisis is to keep the production in balance with the demand. "Volkswagen is using 93% of the capacity of its plants in Brazil and it is working on three shifts in its plant in Curitiba (PR). We also decreased the complexity in the unit of Taubaté (SP) and improved the efficiency in the production", affirmed the president of the company. Unlike the other makers that had to reduce the number of employees to face the crisis that strongly affected the car sector, Volkswagen, besides hiring 1,400 employees, and has 1,600 temporary employees in its plants. Out of the 18 products it manufactures in its Brazilian units, Gol and Voyage are the models with greater demand in the Country, with a 50% share in the sales and results of the company in Brazil. Besides being sold in Brazil, Gol is also the key product of the foreign sales. According to Schmall, Volkswagen exports, in average, to 10 markets a month and the main purchaser of the company is Argentina, followed by Mexico and Germany.