| In Europe, Volkswagen AG is the largest automaker | | | | emphasized the fact that Volkswagen is offering a |
| and producer of VW replacement antenna. They have | | | | new line of vehicles as proof of its commitment to fuel |
| announced recently that the redesign of its best-selling | | | | efficiency. Vehicles sold under the BlueMotion label is |
| Golf model is already in progress. According to Ulrich | | | | capable of burning 30 percent less fuel compared to |
| Hackenberg, the head of Volkswagen brand | | | | traditional models. |
| development in an interview in Berlin, "We are right on | | | | The first BlueMotion car has been presented by |
| track. We are where we want to be.'' | | | | Volkswagen---the Polo subcompact which was |
| It can be recalled that when Martin Winterkorn, the | | | | released last year. The automaker will also be |
| current chief executive of Volkswagen assumed the | | | | releasing soon the BlueMotion version of the Passat |
| position last January he took a team with him from | | | | sedan hopefully in two months time. |
| Audi that includes Hackenberg. The first agenda of | | | | Hackenberg elaborated more and explained that the |
| Winterkorn includes the redesigning the next-generation | | | | BlueMotion vehicles are better in saving fuel because |
| Golf which was created during the terms of former | | | | they are lighter, possess gearboxes that shift more |
| CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder and Lieutenant Wolfgang | | | | slowly and use tires with less road resistance. As a |
| Bernhard. These two former VW heads were | | | | result, BlueMotion cars don't accelerate as quickly and |
| responsible for developing the Volkswagen-brand of | | | | are not as powerful as traditional models. The costs of |
| vehicles. | | | | the Polo BlueMotion are about 500 euros ($679) more |
| Most recently, Hackenberg was in Berlin to discuss | | | | than the standard Polo. |
| with German politician Renate Kuenast with regards to | | | | Juergen Kornmann, Volkswagen spokesman said, |
| the car industry’s role in climate change. Kuenast, | | | | “We are sold out of the Polo BlueMotion until the |
| who is presently heading the Green party in the lower | | | | end of June, early July. The order volume is three |
| house of parliament has created great controversy in | | | | times higher than we expected.'' |
| Germany after she said that people should buy hybrid | | | | Kuenast was assures that Volkswagen will ``definitely |
| cars from Toyota Motor Corp. | | | | bring out a Golf BlueMotion'' soon to which the head of |
| Kuenast said that, "What I meant is that if the | | | | the Green Party replied with BlueMotion expansion is |
| Germans don't have something to offer, then people | | | | "very positive". |
| should buy a Japanese auto. That is not to say that | | | | Part of the program that the former Volkswagen |
| the Greens have made a decision on what the best | | | | brand chief Bernhard has announced at the Geneva |
| type of engine is.'' | | | | Motor Show last February 2005 is the BlueMotion |
| | | | | technology wherein he said that the company will |
| The Blue Motion Technology | | | | spend two billion euros for over a five-year period to |
| In the most recent meeting with Kuenast, Hackenberg | | | | develop and build fuel-efficient cars. |