Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, speaks as Chevrolet unveils one of three new vehicles, the “Spark,” during the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 9.U.S. SALESThe top six automakers by sales in the year were:• General Motors – 2.5 million• Ford – 2.1 million• Toyota – 1.64 million• Chrysler – 1.36 million• Honda – 1.14 million• Nissan – 1.04 millionSource: WardsAuto. Volkswagen brand sold 324,00 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011.
DETROIT — Hours after Volkswagen’s press briefing at the auto show here last week, VW chief Martin Winterkorn and his top lieutenants still were on the Cobo Center’s floor.
They were checking out the redesigned Ford Fusion, closely studying the midsize sedan that debuted earlier in the day and will compete head-on with VW’s Chattanooga-produced Passat.
Ford arguably put on one of the most impressive displays among automakers at the show. Ford unveiled the updated Fusion in nearby Joe Louis Arena using 360-degree video and faux fog as new versions of the car were driven onto the floor where the Red Wings play.
Ford and the other Detroit Three cast, General Motors and Chrysler, appear back from the auto meltdown three years ago. Each is offering new, widely watched products and ratcheting up the competition against foreign carmakers such as VW, Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai.