VW Mulls Microbus, Pickup Truck for U.S. Market

Volkswagen AG tells reporters in Germany it is "intensively" studying plans to develop and reintroduce a small microbus and perhaps a light-duty pickup truck in the American market.

Eckard Scholz, who heads VW's light-commercial vehicle unit, notes that both types of vehicles would address strong market segments in the U.S. But he was vague about the timing of any such models.

VW dropped its Microbus in the U.S. in the early 1970s. It has toyed with but rejected an updated version for the American market for more than a decade. The company also produced a Golf-based front-drive pickup in the U.S. between 1972 and 1982 but has no attempt to replace it since.