Another long-standing dealership, North Shore Volkswagen of Beverly, Mass., sells only Volkswagens. Repeat business and factory support helped the business through times like 1993, when Jetta production moved from Germany to Mexico. Long delays emptied the pipeline and decimated inventories. Beetles rarely appear for service these days, he said. When it comes to market this year, the new VW Beetle, built on the new Golf platform, should be a good seller, he said.
People seem to be going back to their roots.
If VW produces the new vehicle in enough volume, it should succeed. Anyone wondering why some VW dealers have worn big smiles in the past need only look at the numbers. In 1968, the average sales per dealer was a breathtaking 535. Three out of every four deliveries were Beetles. In 1970, Volkswagen of America reported record sales of 569,696 cars and trucks.