Volkswagen turbocharges reboot with huge December promotions

Volkswagen Korea is offering discounts and promotions on the Tiguan SUV, left, and the Arteon sedan, right, through December. [VOLKSWAGEN KOREA]

Volkswagen is offering promotions for the Arteon sedan and the Tiguan SUV, its two flagship models, this month to help maintain momentum after resuming deliveries in Korea last year.

Following the marketing restart in May, Volkswagen Korea said it sold a total of 3,448 Arteons through November, averaging almost 500 units per month. The flagship Volkswagen sedan also ranked the most sold imported diesel model in Korea in May, while placing second the following month.

The five-seater sedan, with fuel efficiency of 15 kilometers per liter (9.3 miles per liter), is rated at 190 horsepower and 40.8 kilogram-meters (295.1 pound-feet) in torque. The model, awarded the Car of the Year by the Automobile Writers’ Association of Korea, has been gaining popularity as Korean consumers increasingly look for sportier choices.

Helped by the increasing popularity of SUV models globally, the Tiguan SUV, a global best-seller for Volkswagen and the German automaker’s first SUV, sold 1,640 units in November after resuming sales to customers the same month.

Volkswagen Korea said the five-seater SUV, with fuel efficiency of 14.5 kilometers per liter, has been popular among local consumers for better fuel efficiency when compared to competitors like the Volvo XC40.

The two models have been at the center of Volkswagen Korea’s success, with strong sales even though they hit the market later than the competition.

In December, Volkswagen Korea is upping its discount rate for the Arteon from 13 percent for cash purchase and 14 percent for customers using Volkswagen Financial Services to 21 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

With use of the financing program, the Arteon 2.0 TDI Premium, which is priced at 52.3 million won ($45,000), and the Arteon 2.0 TDI Elegance Prestige, originally 57.2 million won, run a little more than 40 million won.

Throughout December, Volkswagen Korea is offering enhanced warranties and add-on features for purchasing the Tiguan SUV. The original three-year warranty program can be extended an extra two years or 150,000 kilometers (93,205 miles) for those buying the Tiguan in December.

In December, the Tiguan, originally priced between 41.3 million won and 44.4 million won, can be purchased for a little less than 40 million won with the Volkswagen financing program. The subscribers are also offered an option to replace the Tiguan for free within two years of purchase if an accident occurs caused by a third party.

Through the end of December, the individual consumption tax discount is still available as well. The premium and prestige models also come with a navigation system for free.

BY BY KO JUN-TAE [ko.juntae@joongang.co.kr]