VW says importing cheap U.S.-built Passat to Europe won't pay off for bargain hunters
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Volkswagen AG says European customers importing lower-priced Passats built in its new U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee will end up paying more than if they buy a more expensive German-built Passat.
VW has done a test calculation to prove that importing the U.S.-built vehicle into Europe would not pay off.
According to the calculation, an American-built Passat SE model with a 140-horsepower diesel engine will cost $25,995 (18,459 euros) in the U.S.
A comparably equipped Passat 2.0 TDI Comfortline from VW's Emden or Zwickau factories in Germany is listed at 30,100 euros.
But other expenses have to be considered when importing a Passat from the U.S. to Germany. They include $600 to transport the vehicle to the port, and $950 for the actual overseas shipment. Transportation insurance adds another $669 to the bill.
In Europe, import sales taxes of 4,122 euros would be due. There would also be the freight forwarder's charge of 450 euros for import processing and 400 euros for transport to the customer. Customs duties totalling 1,972 euros would be added to those sums.
The private importer would have to pay about 1,200 euros for the exhaust gas measurement and testing required in Germany. The special approval of technical modifications to the main headlights would cost 900 euros.
The cost to appropriately retrofit vehicle parts such as blinkers and rear fog lights would be 2,000 euros. The technical assessment by the TÜV, a German testing and inspection agency, would add another charge of 3,000 euros.
You can reach Henning Krogh at hkrogh@craincom.de.
