(Thinkstock)
Census: carpool rates decline over decades
The percentage of workers who carpool has dropped by almost half since 1980, the first time the Census Bureau started systematically tracking the numbers, according to new data from the bureau. Census data shows the national carpooling rate is below 12 percent of all drivers and rates differ by race -- black, Hispanic and Asian commuters carpool far more than white workers. However, at the same time that car pool rates have dropped, census data found that mass transit use has increased in the past decade and the number of people working from home at least one day a week has tripled since 1998.
--New York Times News Service
(Volkswagen)
VW may bring back Phaeton and Scirocco
Volkswagen may bring back the Scirocco coupe and Phaeton sedan to the U.S. as it aims to triple sales here within the next few years. VW withdrew the $92,360 Phaeton from the U.S. in 2006 due to slow sales. The Scirocco (shown above), which sells in Europe for $30,500, had a cult following during the 1970s and 1980s. It was discontinued in 1992 and revived in Europe in 2006. VW wants to hit sales of 1 million vehicles in the U.S. by 2018, including models by its Audi luxury unit.
--Bloomberg
1 Comment
By Minok on February 13, 2011 10:55 PM
The Phaeton always seemed like a branding mistake. For that level of car, the Audi brand is the proper brand... its a good car, its just got the wrong (confusing) badge on it.
The Scirrocco,.. that is a sweet car.. thought todays car looks, like the current Golf, nothing like the iconic cars of the 70's and 80's. Modern styling and aero are shaping cars to be somewhat similar and kinda ugly. Still, the Scirrocco wasn't sold in the US so far because the marketers at VW felt they could not sell them at the prices they would need to charge in the US. Something in that thinking changed. I'm happy about that, because it may mean we will get a TDI-electric hybrid Golf at some point.. and thats the car I'm waiting on.