Volkswagen announced Thursday that the company has sold more Passat cars in 2012 than they ever have before.
Volkswagen sales in the U.S. are up 32% through August and expect that number to continue to grow. This currently is the biggest sales increase by any automaker around the world. The drastic jump in sales is largely due to Volkswagen's two feature cars, the Passat and Jetta compact.
The 2012 total just barely surpassed the previous record holder number which was set in 2001 when the company sold 77,523 Passat cars. The record setting Passat was sold at a dealership in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Reputation tends to determine whether a car is going to become a best seller or a bust, and the success of 2012 can largely be attributed to the recognition the Passat obtained in 2011.
The 2011 Passat made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which was followed by an award-winning commercial that premiered during Super Bowl 45 that February. The following September the first Passat was available for purchase, advertised as the only midsize sedan that offers German engineering at an affordable price.
The Passat was named the 2011 Institute of Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, which is highest rating a car can receive from a non-profit safety research organization. The year also ended on a high note when Volkswagen was presented the prestigious Motor Trend 2012 Car of the Year award.
The Volkswagen Chattanooga plant in Tennessee is considered to be the most environmentally friendly plant worldwide as well. The plant was rewarded for their efforts and concern for the environment by becoming the only plant in the world to be certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Despite the increase, the Passat still currently trails the top-selling midsize cars, and it's not even close. Toyota has sold over 280,000 Camrys in 2012, and Honda has sold over 218,000 Accords. In comparison, 77,554 Passat cars have been sold in 2012, and in the month of August alone, over 10,000 were sold in the U.S.
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