VW comeback in the Philippines - maybe?

**leopaul** · June 23rd, 2010 03:39 PM

Read the article found on Top Gear Philippines:

A little bird has passed on some juicy bit of information, although we admit we have not formally confirmed this. Remember our recent piece on the PGA Cars Center being constructed at the Bonifacio High Street complex inside The Fort Global City in Taguig? Well, our informant tells us that the edifice in question isn't actually going to house a new showroom for either Audi or Porsche. Our mole claims the building being put up is meant to serve as a showroom for another German brand, which is none other than Volkswagen.

Apparently, PGA Cars has managed to also wrest away Volkswagen's distributorship license from the dormant Auto Prominence group. You will recall that PGA Cars successfully poached the Audi brand from Auto Prominence in 2005, resulting in some legal wrangling between the two companies. And now, according to our source, PGA Cars is adding Volkswagen to its fine collection of German car brands.

This rumor has been circulating for months, but we've had no way of confirming this. Knowing the bosses of PGA Cars, they usually don't talk to the press unless they need us to write stories about a new product or showroom. So again, we want to be responsible hacks by declaring that this story is nothing more than unconfirmed industry gossip. Maybe it's also just wishful thinking on our part. After all, who doesn't want the GTI, the Jetta and the Passat to be officially sold here? Now, if any one of you knows anything more substantial and concrete, feel free to share it with us through the comment box below.

Come to think of it, that "W" emblem gracing the façade of the building--as shown in graphic renderings at the construction site--looks suspiciously suggestive of "VW". Hmmm...

Source: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/is-vo...-arriving-soon

Could that be possible for PGA Cars to do that?! Hope so because we like the latest Volkswagen models from other countries.

**niky** · June 23rd, 2010 03:55 PM

If they can successfully bypass Autoprominence's legal maneuvers... it's possible.

Good for PGA. Having VW will allow them to go after higher sales volumes and compete with more mainstream dealers. Though it remains to be seen how price-competitive VW models will be locally. I have a feeling they'll be in Volvo territory, price-wise.

**tidus1203** · June 23rd, 2010 04:09 PM

^^And that's not good since VW is supposedly only Toyota/Honda territory price wise. Pero syempre CBU Germany iba ang tax classification nya... Meron bang planta ang VW dito sa SEA? Alam ko sa China meron might be cheaper to get it from China?

**ianmitsulancer** · June 23rd, 2010 04:49 PM

hmm.... i think i read somewhere that they are contemplating on setting up shop in Malaysia/Indonesia... not sure though.

The New Polo Sedan/Hatch seen a few weeks back is good looking but i hope they bring in also the Golf, Jetta, Scirocco, Passat and the others.

**marg** · June 23rd, 2010 05:01 PM

Hope VW works out this time. 2x na sila nag close shop sa Pinas.

Maybe the Coyuito's money can see this through.

**niky** · June 23rd, 2010 05:33 PM

If it's to come from an ASEAN factory or via (wink.wink.) Singapore, they can keep the price down. It'll all depend.

VW's base models compete on the same price point as Honda and Toyota in the US through heavy decontenting. (they get the agricultural Brazilian made 2.5 instead of the more advanced direct injection engines). When they were here before, the price range was similar to Volvo... (even with some really uncompetitive engines... the 115 hp 2.0 (8 valve! How high tech!) in the New Beetle comes to mind...) I don't expect that to change much.