Volkswagen to double Middle East sales

Dubai: Volkswagen has set its sights on doubling its vehicle sales in the Middle East next year.

Europe's largest car automaker will have sold nearly 10,000 units in the region by the end of the year - up 33 per cent from 7,500 units in 2006.

The company aims to hit the 20,000 mark for sales next year through new model launches, a variety of sales initiatives and expanded production.

"We want to do more business in the region, but the production hasn't followed us. The production of the Golf Gti was not sufficient and also for some models of the Touareg -this will change next year," said Hans-Dieter Keller, managing director of Volkswagen Middle East.

The company's Middle East sales are driven by Touareg, which account for around 35 per cent of all VW vehicles sold in the region this year.

The VW Tiguan, branded as the 'small brother' of the Touareg, made its Middle East debut at the International Motor Show in Dubai to tap demand in the compact SUV segment.

Looking to the hot-hatch market, where the Golf Gti and R32 sit, Keller admitted the segment is still small in the region and will only fully develop in 10 years, due to increasing regional wealth and the GCC's changing population demographics.

Volkswagen also displayed the new CrossGolf, a variant of the Golf which bridges the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segments.

Keller said Volkswagen plans to expand its range of SUVs and vans, as well as introduce pick-ups.