From the Newsroom
São Paulo – Volkswagen Brazil announced on Monday (07) that they had entered their 10th new market in less than one year. The destination is Abu Dhabi, where they have recently shipped 100 units of the Saveiro pickup.
Of all the markets open by the company in one year, six are Arab countries. Apart from Abu Dhabi, the company has sold cars to Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt. Apart from these, the company has also exported to Germany, Austria, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.
According to information supplied by a company spokesperson, Volkswagen sold 76,034 vehicles on the foreign market from January to May this year, a 26% growth over the same period in 2003. The forecast is to reach 180,000 units up to the end of the year. The main markets are still Mexico, with 34,546 vehicles shipped from January to May, Argentina (16,300 units) and the United States (6,148 cars).
Modification
Company figures show that the Saveiros shipped to Abu Dhabi were suffered some modifications with regard to the model traded in Brazil. The engine has been adapted to receive 100% pure petrol, as in Brazil the fuel is mixed with alcohol. Apart from that, alarms that sound when the car exceeds 120 km/h or when the safety belt is not done up have been installed. Blinkers have also been added to the mudguards.
Shipping of the pickups is part of a 300 vehicle sales contract to Abu Dhabi. The sales include Saveiros and other models of the Gol hatchback line, to be shipped within the next few months.
In all, the company hopes to sell between 3,000 and 3,500 cars to the Arab countries in 2004. Within the next two years, Volkswagen hopes to have increased export to the region to between 5,000 and 5,500.
