- Despite plans to cull models from its global lineup, Volkswagen is reportedly bringing a pickup truck to the United States, according to Reuters.
- The proposed pickup truck would be assembled in VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant and may be built in collaboration with Ford, although it would differ from the European-market Amarok pictured above.
- The report also says that Marco Schubert, former head of sales at Audi, will take over for Kjell Gruner as CEO of VW's North American operations.
Last month, Volkswagen announced plans to cut its global product lineup in half over the coming years. Still, that doesn't mean VW is done developing new products, and a report from Reuters states that Volkswagen is planning to launch a new pickup truck for the United States. Reuters also reports that VW's North American division is also set to get a new CEO.
The article says that Volkswagen plans to build a new truck and unveil it by the end of the decade. We expect it to follow roughly the same template as the mid-size Amarok that VW sells in other regions, which rides on the same platform as the Ford Ranger. It's unclear if VW is planning to collaborate with another automaker on the new truck, but a similar agreement between Ford and VW would make sense, given the existing partnership on the Amarok and a pair of electric SUVs in Europe. The new truck is expected to be built in VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant.
For Sale Near You
See all results for used Volkswagen for sale near 69221
Volkswagen has had a rocky few years for sales in the U.S. Between 2024 and 2025, it saw a 13 percent fall in total sales. Sales decreased by 16.1 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, but Q2 saw a 24.9 percent increase, meaning the brand ended the first half of 2026 with a 2.3 percent sales increase versus last year's first half sales. Volkswagen's overall presence in the United States is relatively small, however, with only 4 percent market share, according to Reuters.
A new CEO is also reportedly on the way, presumably to steer the company toward higher sales figures. The report says Marco Schubert, who formerly served as head of sales at Audi, will lead Volkswagen Group of America and Volkswagen Brand North America. Schubert will take over for current North American CEO Kjell Gruner, who was appointed to lead Volkswagen's North American divisions in December 2024.
Schubert has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, according to the Volkswagen Group's website, and has spent more than 20 years at Audi. His most recent position was as Audi's sales and marketing managing board member.
We reached out to Volkswagen for a statement on both the truck and the leadership changes, but a company representative declined to comment.
➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.
For Sale Near You
See all results for used Volkswagen for sale near 69221
Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership's showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard "Fiero-vette" for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called "The Dumptruck."