Volkswagen Rolls Out New Jetta

Volkswagen has rolled out its face-lifted Jetta in Mexico. The new model is the one that was created by FAW-Volkswagen in China. Its addition to the Mexico lineup is part of a major hike in production capacity at VW's plant in Pueblo. Realized with an investment of $40 million, it means that in 2008 the facility will be able to churn out 450,000 cars a year.

The Mexican Jetta had been around for many years and it was time for an update. Volkswagen tapped its FAW-Volkswagen joint venture in China, which had already come up with an attractive Jetta update, and is producing the same car in Mexico.

In addition to sales in its home market, the Mexico-produced car will be exported to certain Central and Eastern European markets. It will be powered by either a 2.0-liter gas or a 1.9-liter diesel engine.

Volkswagen manufactures the New Beetle and both the current and previous-generation Jettas in Mexico. In order to distinguish between the latter two, the previous generation is called Jetta, while the current one is called Bora. To make things a bit more complicated, Bora is known as Jetta in North America.

Separately this week, VW confirmed German media reports that it might consider setting up another North American plant if the dollar remains as weak as it currently is in relation to the euro. Volkswagen previously had a plant in Michigan but sold it to Chrysler in 1983.