Volkswagen discontinues the Passat!

GTO · 27th December 2013, 13:31

Is the Passat on sale or not? Nope. For one, there have been zero factory dispatches of the Passat since October. We spoke to 3 different VW dealers from Mumbai and all of them state that new Passats are no longer available. A Chembur dealer has a couple of 2012-build Passats (at a heavy discount), thus confirming that the model has been slow-selling for a while now. They were quick to add that the all-new 8th generation Passat will go on sale sometime in 2014.

wanderernomad · 27th December 2013, 14:50

There is an online news item that Passat HAS NOT been discontinued. I wonder if it makes a difference at all?

ambivalent_98 · 27th December 2013, 16:00

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/27981538.cms

Here is the official release.

CoolFire · 28th December 2013, 10:29

Not sure a press release can make any change in the state of affairs unless dealers are really taking bookings and selling the car.

a4anurag · 28th December 2013, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolFire

Not sure a press release can make any change in the state of affairs unless dealers are really taking bookings and selling the car.

I agree. This truth will be revealed during the monthly sales data that are given by manufacturers.

If there is massive decline then this news has created a drift off customers to Skoda or Toyota as the sales numbers for them would have gone up.

Anurag.

ajmat · 29th December 2013, 13:31

Let's look at the following business reasons which have led to this.

VW have loads of inventory of Vento's etc
1 Passat = 3 Vento's in value
Some 2012 Passats are still in stock
Skoda own the plant where the Passat is assembled
The minimum production batch is around 20 units I guess, so if you want to order a new Passat, they need to make around 20. God knows if there is a minimum kit order also to be shipped, considering the current inventory situ, it does not look attractive.
Skoda needs all the capacity it needs to clear the Octavia back orders. The dealers have nothing else viable to sell although they might have plenty to repair though!
Similar situation with Audi Q3 S

My guess is until VW clear existing Passat stock, there will be no shipments from the factory. I won't be surprised that if there is any meagre demand, it might be cheaper for VW to import some Passats and swallow the duty than bear the inventory/ production tooling up cost.

Mad Max · 29th December 2013, 14:07

Kinda weird that they are tripping over themselves to release statements that the Passat is still bring sold but their sales sheets show a big fat zero! Typical VAG. They simply can't decide things for themselves. The market decides for them instead.

issigonis · 29th December 2013, 15:56

>>>

VW China is scoring big in PRC - I saw somewhere (EIU probably) figures of 3 million units sold /can be sold there. VW might well be focussed more there vis-a vis India.

Car buying as in many purchase decision, has an evolutionary lifecycle, basis incomes, status, longevity of wealth & personal tastes.

If I were a gomba or newly arrived professional/businessman, I would go for the small X1/3/2 Series/C Class/ A3/A4. If I were fabulously rich I might opt for the larger teutons. If I am an oligarch, I might prefer the charms of an RR/Bentley/Maser. However if I am rich and do not care what the world thinks, I might drive a Passat or a Phaeton or maybe, horror of horrors a Logan!

For must of us in India, we are in the stage where two strands play - sticker price & snob value. These two primarily influence our purchase decisions, and running costs.
Passat is unable to address these influences adequately; neither is Accord.

Regards

trinity0114 · 29th December 2013, 16:35

A couple of years back I happened to suggest a friend of mine the Passat, the car impressed her & she bought it & now even I can relate to all those Passat owners who are left wondering what kind of price would they get at the time of selling with all this 'discontinued & not discontinued' news going around because it was me who suggested her the passat.

27th December 2013, 13:31	#46
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,537 Thanked: 300,745 Times View My Garage	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! Is the Passat on sale or not? Nope. For one, there have been zero factory dispatches of the Passat since October. We spoke to 3 different VW dealers from Mumbai and all of them state that new Passats are no longer available. A Chembur dealer has a couple of 2012-build Passats (at a heavy discount), thus confirming that the model has been slow-selling for a while now. They were quick to add that the all-new 8th generation Passat will go on sale sometime in 2014.
	(4) Thanks

27th December 2013, 14:50	#47
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! There is an online news item that Passat HAS NOT been discontinued. I wonder if it makes a difference at all?
	() Thanks

27th December 2013, 16:00	#48
ambivalent_98 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune-Bangalore Posts: 807 Thanked: 203 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/27981538.cms Here is the official release.
	() Thanks

28th December 2013, 10:29	#49
CoolFire BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tsr, Kerala Posts: 386 Thanked: 575 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! Not sure a press release can make any change in the state of affairs unless dealers are really taking bookings and selling the car.
	() Thanks

29th December 2013, 13:31	#51
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,864 Thanked: 27,975 Times View My Garage	Let's look at the following business reasons which have led to this. VW have loads of inventory of Vento's etc 1 Passat = 3 Vento's in value Some 2012 Passats are still in stock Skoda own the plant where the Passat is assembled The minimum production batch is around 20 units I guess, so if you want to order a new Passat, they need to make around 20. God knows if there is a minimum kit order also to be shipped, considering the current inventory situ, it does not look attractive. Skoda needs all the capacity it needs to clear the Octavia back orders. The dealers have nothing else viable to sell although they might have plenty to repair though! Similar situation with Audi Q3 S My guess is until VW clear existing Passat stock, there will be no shipments from the factory. I won't be surprised that if there is any meagre demand, it might be cheaper for VW to import some Passats and swallow the duty than bear the inventory/ production tooling up cost.
	(4) Thanks

29th December 2013, 14:07	#52
Mad Max BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 941 Thanked: 1,448 Times	Kinda weird that they are tripping over themselves to release statements that the Passat is still bring sold but their sales sheets show a big fat zero! Typical VAG. They simply can't decide things for themselves. The market decides for them instead.
	() Thanks

29th December 2013, 15:56	#53
issigonis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 956 Thanked: 95 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! >>> VW China is scoring big in PRC - I saw somewhere (EIU probably) figures of 3 million units sold /can be sold there. VW might well be focussed more there vis-a vis India. Car buying as in many purchase decision, has an evolutionary lifecycle, basis incomes, status, longevity of wealth & personal tastes. If I were a gomba or newly arrived professional/businessman, I would go for the small X1/3/2 Series/C Class/ A3/A4. If I were fabulously rich I might opt for the larger teutons. If I am an oligarch, I might prefer the charms of an RR/Bentley/Maser. However if I am rich and do not care what the world thinks, I might drive a Passat or a Phaeton or maybe, horror of horrors a Logan! For must of us in India, we are in the stage where two strands play - sticker price & snob value. These two primarily influence our purchase decisions, and running costs. Passat is unable to address these influences adequately; neither is Accord. Regards
	(1) Thanks

29th December 2013, 16:35	#54
trinity0114 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Ludhiana Posts: 132 Thanked: 338 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues the Passat! A couple of years back I happened to suggest a friend of mine the Passat, the car impressed her & she bought it & now even I can relate to all those Passat owners who are left wondering what kind of price would they get at the time of selling with all this 'discontinued & not discontinued' news going around because it was me who suggested her the passat.
	() Thanks