Volkswagen of America today reported that sales fell 7.7 percent last month from a year ago, even though its Tiguan sport utility vehicle had its best September ever.
VW also said the new midsize SUV to be assembled in Chattanooga will be officially unveiled in California late this month.
Total September sales were 24,112 units. Chattanooga-made Passat sales dropped 12.4 percent to 6,335 last month, the company said.
Sales last month for the Tiguan, with 2,988 units, were up 0.5 percent over September 2015, Volkswagen of America said.
In late September, the all-new Golf Alltrack, based on the SportWagen, began to reach dealer showrooms.
For the year though September, sales are down 12.4 percent to 231,268, according to the company.