easing business, 9%; spare parts, 6% and others, 4%. STRATEGIEStop Volkswagen is attempting to set a record for the least fuel used for a car traveling around the globe with the widely hyped "Around the World in 80 Days" tour. A Volkswagen Lupo 3 Liter TDI passenger car is making the trip. Relatively unknown to the U.S., the Lupo 3Liter TDI made history last year in Europe when it was introduced, becoming the first production car to meet the long-standing environmental challenge of being able to travel 62 miles on just 0.79 gallons of fuel. Volkswagen means the People's Car, and that has led to many jokes and pointed comments as Chairman Ferdinand Piech has taken the brand upscale. He is getting ready to introduce a new luxury car, the D1, in the second half of 2001 that will be every bit as refined as a Mercedes-Benz S-class but will cost 20% less. All down the VW line, Volkswagens are getting more like Audis, Volkswagen's second-most important brand. Cars like the Polo get nice interiors, not cheap ones. Cars like the Golf share parts with the Audi A4, which helps the Golf. Meanwhile, VW is bringing Seat, its Spanish brand, and Skoda, its Czech brand, upscale. ADVERTISINGtopLast year, Volkswagen's measured ad spending hit $281.1 million, up 55.5%. Volkswagen spent $47.7 million in magazine advertising in 1999.Volkswagen’s US Advertising Spending, by Brand, 1999 vs. 1998(Dollars in Millions)19991998% ChangeVolkswagen vehicles$281.0$180.855.4%Audi cars84.673.515.2Source: Advertising AgeFINANCIALStopVolkswagen AG reported sales of $65.71 billion (US dollars) for the year ending December of 1999. This represents an increase of 9.5% versus 1998, when the company's sales were 68.64 billion Euro. Sales at Volkswagen AG have increased during each of the previous five years (and since 1994, sales have increased a total of 84%).Volkswagen Worldwide Automotive Revenues, 1999 vs. 1998(Dollars in Millions)19991998% ChangeSal...
