browning Archives | AutoDepot

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Luxury

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton – Click above for high-res gallery

During a business background event on Sunday at its North American headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, Jonathan Browning, Volkswagen of America’s CEO confirmed to Autoblog that the company’s short-lived Phaeton sedan isn’t likely to return to America any time soon.

Despite a flurry of reports to the contrary since the Phaeton left the U.S. market after the 2006 model year, Browning confirms that the luxury sedan is not part of the brand’s ambitious plan to sell 800,000 units in North America by 2018. That said, while it’s unlikely to return to North America in that time frame, VW is not completely ruling it out. According to Browning, the large luxury sedan segment is something that VW will eventually field an entry in once again (“It is not a case of if, but when”) – but at the moment, it sounds like the return of the Phaeton is likely to be couple of generations away.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

VW CEO Browning: Phaeton not in the cards any time soon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “VW CEO Browning: Phaeton not in the cards any time soon”

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Volkswagen

Since the departure of Stefan Jacoby, Volkswagen has been hunting for a new helmsman for its U.S. operations. Word is that VW have found that man. Jonathan Browning, a former managing executive for General Motors and Ford, is set to take over the position Jacoby vacated when taking the CEO spot at Volvo.

Browning initially joined the Volkswagen team in June to head the national sales effort for all 10 brands under the VAG umbrella. He began his career with General Motors back in 1981, working with Vauxhall and then moving on to manage GM Turkey. Browning eventually left the General for the Blue Oval where he was involved with marketing and served as managing director for (then Ford-owned) Jaguar from 1997 through 2001. GM got him back and he climbed its ladder, rising to the position of Head of Global Sales – a post he resigned from in 2009.

While Browning’s appointment isn’t official yet, Volkswagen will be holding an event tomorrow at 11 AM EST to announce its new U.S. CEO, so expect confirmation before noon on Monday.

[Source: Wall Street Journal – Sub. Req.]

Report: Jonathan Browning to head Volkswagen’s U.S. operations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Jonathan Browning to head Volkswagen’s U.S. operations”