Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automakers
January 11, 2020 06:06 AM

VW turns to Brazil for help building chic, affordable small car

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The Nivus, shown as the New Urban Coupe concept, will go into production this year in  Brazil and also will be built in Europe. It is the first VW designed and engineered entirely in a virtual environment.

    The push for greater regional autonomy that has helped Volkswagen win back market share in Brazil could now reap benefits in its European home market. VW's latest South American model, the Nivus, will come to Europe after senior executives were impressed by its combination of urban styling and low investment costs when they visited the company's design studio in Sao Paolo last year.

    After testing the car's look during clinics with European customers, VW executives last March approved Nivus production starting in 2021. Chances are the car will also be built for Europe in Pamplona, Spain, where its siblings, the Polo and T-Cross, are made.

    "I am a fan of the new Volkswagen Nivus," sales chief Juergen Stackmann tweeted last month, congratulating the Brazilian team after they released an early teaser video of the small coupe-styled crossover.

    The Nivus, previewed by the New Urban Coupe concept, will go into production this year in Anchieta, Brazil. It is the first VW designed and engineered entirely in a virtual environment. Only individual parts that differed materially from the Polo were constructed for validation purposes, but no conventional, full-scale prototype was built.

    Designers say customers will not notice the time and money-saving shortcuts. The car was developed using existing subassemblies from other vehicles. To give the Nivus its coupe-like look, for example, the longer rear module of the Skoda Rapid was used to stretch the vehicle.

    Shorter than the South American T-Cross, the Nivus is positioned in the high-volume small segment that accounts for about 70 percent of Brazil's passenger car market. "It has the wheelbase of the Polo, but the tires of the T-Cross.

    "We see the MQB platform as Lego blocks with so many parts that we can combine to come up with something different," said JC Pavone, the head of VW's design studio in Sao Paulo.

    For years, Brazil was VW Group's third-largest market behind China and Germany, largely because of strong demand for the small, affordable VW Gol, which was a top-seller. Overall VW brand deliveries in Brazil reached 661,000 vehicles in 2012, but an aging model range caused volume to plummet to 218,200 four years later. The share halved and the brand, once the dominant local player, fell behind current market leader Chevrolet.

    VW made Pablo Di Si head of its operations in Latin America, which includes Brazil, in late 2017 and is investing about 1.5 billion euros into the country between 2016 and 2020 to rejuvenate its lineup.

    "We have the autonomy from Volkswagen in Germany to develop all our own tools," Di Si told reporters last month in Anchieta. Those tools include a new digital dealer experience and the equipment needed to engineer a new model such as the Nivus nine months faster than the norm using virtual prototyping. "If we launch something and it doesn't work, we change it here locally," Di Si said.

    The Nivus is the fourth MQB model launched under Di Si following the Novo Polo hatchback, Virtus compact sedan and South American T-Cross SUV.

    According to VW's latest figures, its sales in Brazil have grown twice as fast as the overall market, lifting its share to 15.3 percent from 12.5 percent since 2017. Because of upheaval in Argentina, however, the South American region failed to break even in 2019, continuing a long streak of losses.

    Top executives from the VW brand board returned a few weeks ago to survey the progress by the Brazil team, Di Si said. Asked whether more cars designed in Brazil might make their way to Europe at the request of headquarters, he replied: "I hope this is just the beginning. Actually, it's more than a hope."

    Pavone gave a few clues about the latest model shown to the board. "It's something in this segment (small) and is in a very late stage of development already. The German board appreciated it a lot so there is a possibility that this might be taken to Europe as well," he said, hinting that the new model would feature a more progressive and modern look than the Nivus.

    "We had more freedom to be a little more creative for this car, with fewer technical limitations and a little more budget," Pavone said. "When people had a look in the clinic, they said it looks like it is connected more with future VW designs than current ones."

    Fortunately, Wolfsburg has an inside track into his thought process. VW brand's head of exterior design is JC's twin brother, Marco.

    AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

    This story is from Automotive News Europe's latest monthly magazine. To view the new issue, as well as past issues, click here.

     

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Renault's new small EV platform cuts weight, diversity and costs
    Recommended for You
    Renault CMF-B EV platform 2023
    Renault's new small EV platform cuts weight, diversity and costs
    CUPRA Formentor VZ5
    Europe's automakers reaped record profits in 2022
    Renault Nissan
    Nissan, Renault confident of finalizing alliance deal soon
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us