Volkswagen’s Slovak unit is to increase its 2004 production target for the popular Touareg SUV to meet soaring demand, a senior executive said.
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According to Reuters, the subsidiary originally planned to increase Touareg production to 90,000 units this year, from 60,000 in 2003 but chairman, Jozef Uhrik said that VW’s initial plan had been under review due to surprisingly high demand for the model.
“It was decided to raise the number of Touaregs produced this year due to high interest,” Uhrik reportedly said, adding: “We are now discussing how our suppliers are able to react so that we can deliver several thousands of Touaregs more to our customers.”
Uhrik told Reuters the final decision on the new Touareg production goal should be taken in two weeks’ time.
The news agency noted that, earlier this year, the company said it feared it could have problems meeting the Touareg target because of concerns about supplies of some components but Uhrik said supplies for the planned increase had already been secured.
Reuters said the VW plant – the backbone of Slovakia’s booming car industry – is also preparing to launch production of an Audi SUV by the end of 2005.
Volkswagen Slovakia, which accounts for about 20% of the country’s total exports, plans to continue producing VW Polos and SEAT cars this year and also aims to produce 40,000 bodies for Porsche’s Cayenne SUV, the news agency said.
The company said last year it planned to assemble up to 350,000 cars this year, up from 281,000 in 2003 but has recently declined to comment on the 2004 target, Reuters added.
