Volkswagen wants Champs-Elysees storefront
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PARIS (Bloomberg) For decades, France's elite troops have marched down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris to mark Bastille Day, passing countless tricolor flags and – almost as important to French national identity – dealerships for PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Renault. Next summer, they may also find a Volkswagen Group showroom on their route.
VW is negotiating to open a store on France's most famous shopping street in the location currently occupied by record-seller Virgin, said VW spokeswoman Leslie Peltier.
It is part of the German company's increased challenge of Renault and Peugeot on their home turf. VW's first-half share in France grew to 13.5 percent from 11.9 percent a year earlier, according to France's CCFA automakers association. Peugeot and Renault each lost about 1.5 percentage points of share.
The location, directly opposite Renault's "atelier," would give plenty of potential customers a close-up view of the German automaker's latest offerings during next year's Bastille Day celebrations.
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