ANd oh so ugly...

Justin M. Mayrand
1980 Westy "SuperVan"

On Oct 20, 2006, at 3:03 PM, robertmstewart wrote:

> http://www.ohiovw.com/news/microbus.asp
>
> So here�s something I found today, some more recent news on the  
> Microbus
> concept: lets all hold our breath till it comes out...
>
> Here�s what the site stated:
>
> � 1,500 new jobs at St�cken site
> � 5000 x 5000 model complete
> � Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder: all market studies positive
> � Bernd Wiedemann: entering new era
> � G�nter Lenz: staff put up marvelous fight
>
> The decision has been taken: the Microbus will be built in Hanover.  
> In the
> presence of several thousand employees, the management and Works  
> Council
> today signed an agreement to build the new model. Speaking at the  
> St�cken
> site, Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder, Chairman of the Board of Management
> Volkswagen AG, said: "Having reviewed the economic requirements for  
> building
> the Microbus in the Group, we have come to the conclusion that,  
> based on the
> 5000 x 5000 project and a thorough restructuring of the Hanover  
> site, the
> conditions are good."
>
> Bernd Wiedemann, Spokesman of the Managing Body Volkswagen Commercial
> Vehicles, commented: "This is a great day for Hanover. Volkswagen  
> Commercial
> Vehicles is entering a new era."
>
> The decision means 1,500 new jobs for the Hanover plant. These jobs  
> will be
> created as part of the unique 5000 x 5000 labour model. Under this new
> concept, Volkswagen AG will employ a total of 5,000 persons for a  
> gross wage
> of DM 5,000 (� 2,556). The decision to create 3,500 new jobs to  
> produce a
> minivan at the Wolfsburg plant was already taken last year.
>
>
> G�nter Lenz, Chairman of the Works Council Volkswagen Commercial  
> Vehicles,
> said: " The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles team put up a marvellous  
> fight to
> win this vehicle. All our efforts have been rewarded. The decision  
> shows
> that the Hanover site can hold its own in an international  
> comparison of VW
> locations."
>
> Bernd Wiedemann thanked the Volkswagen AG Board of Management for the
> confidence it was placing in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles  
> brand: "The
> decision is a great challenge - a challenge we are very willing to  
> accept."
>
> By deciding to build the Microbus, Volkswagen has set its sights on  
> a new
> segment - a MPV combining striking design and high functionality  
> with the
> comfort of a limousine. Dr. Pischetsrieder emphasised that "with the
> Microbus, a legend begun some 50 years ago when the first VW bus  
> left the
> production line here is now returning to Hanover. The VW bus was  
> never just
> a means of transport, it has always been an emotive cult object. The
> public's reaction at motor shows combined with the findings of market
> studies already show us that the Microbus design has a spontaneous  
> appeal,
> and that the vehicle will follow in the footsteps of its successful
> predecessor."
>
> The Microbus concept car debuted at the Detroit Motor Show. The  
> vehicle was
> also given an enthusiastic reception at the Tokyo, Geneva and  
> Frankfurt
> Motor Shows. The Microbus was designed at the Volkswagen Design  
> Studio in
> California.
>
> Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles / Communications