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.
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.
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