Volkswagen Considering Atlas-Based Pickup

Volkswagen may offer a mid-size pickup to U.S. buyers and is expected to show a concept version of it at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, sources told Automotive News.

The pickup would be based on the Atlas mid-size SUV and could be assembled alongside that vehicle at Volkswagen's Tennessee plant. Volkswagen has already announced plans to build a five-passenger Atlas at the plant along with the current seven-passenger model.

A company spokesman declined to comment.

The midsize pickup segment has been in growth mode since 2015, which saw a 41% increase in sales that year following the late-2014 introduction of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. The segment increased 25% in 2016 — a year that included a heavily refreshed Toyota Tacoma and the second-generation unibody Honda Ridgeline.

In 2017, midsize pickup sales reached 452,335, which was a 1% increase.

In January, Ford unveiled its 2019 Ranger that's expected to go on sale at the end of this year.