I'd be concerned about customer service. View my VW experience here: http://www.reesphotos.com/VW/

haha, Asutralians always get the good ones, too bad for the USA they stuck with their own cars, no one wants them to ruin them. nah im just kidding, SOME american vehicles are good, bout a 70/30 split bad/good.

Aussie, I know you were mostly kidding, and not to sound rude, but admit you haven't driven many American vehicles. The US built pickups are the best in the world. Australians DON'T always get the "good ones" that's why in Australia, you have to import the American stuff privately, and convert them to RHD. Even a 2002 F250 that was built in Brazil, with no features, are getting 6 figures in Australia. No matter what else you look at, Toyota Hilux, Mahindra, Tata, Toyota 70 series.... none of these have anywhere near the engineering of a 2009 F150 or Dodge Ram. They are simple vehicles. And sometimes that's good. But they don't have much, don't do much, and don't really look all that good. So I understand VWs thinking. Sell their pickup in markets where pickups are rare, and cost a lot more. In the US, to be competitive, they would have to sell that thing for under $20k. And they still wouldn't sell too many of them. This vehicle will not be missed.

Not a very valid comment at all. The Hilux, Navara etc are far from "simple vehicles"..the F150/Dodge Ram are much simpler vehicles in many respects.
What VW cannot see is the market in the US for its midsize Pickup. To get economies of scale it needs to sell the vehicle globally. US consumers do not buy small diesels , outside the US they buy them in droves.
Price for the Pickup has to be competitive with Asian sourced vehicles, therefore low and have considerably more abilities than theirs to make an impact.
The price of converting a US pickup is prohibitive and that is one reason they are not very popular here. The Brazilian 2002 F250 was sold at a reasonable but highish price as it was RHD to begin with. No they not "are getting 6 figures in Australia" you would be charging that for a 2008 model though, as you literally have to rebuild the Pickup to make it RHD

All I know is that I have a diesel Jetta and it gets approx 50 MPG it's got 80K plus miles on it, we have two in our family and if VW can bring more diesel trucks whatever size that would be OK with me, what other car gets that MPG on a consistent bases? NOTHING!...economic operating vehicles is what this country needs...BRING THEM ON!

I agree w/Robert. The US has no small fuel efficient diesel trucks. Even the planned diesel F150 was dropped. The Tacoma V6 gets a sad 16/20 mpg, and the Honda Ridgeline is no better. The Amarok would be different due to the mpg, and if sold globally they would have the volume. I also read VW didn't want to bring it in due to the level of quality US buyers demand. They make fine cars, but maybe the Amarok will be lower quality- and accepted in other countries for some reason. The Ranger replacement may be coming in 2011 w/4 doors and small diesel power. Sounds good to me.

Maybe with the help from FIAT,Chrysler can bring back a 4 cylinder,FWD Rampage pickup.Imagine 30+ mpg economy with a gas engine.

Robert I don't know why you are trying to convince me the Navara, Hilux etc are anything close to what the F150, Silverado and Ram are. I have driven the Navara ST-R 3.0 DI, STX 2.5 DI and 4L V6, current model Hilux SR 4X4 4L V6 and 3.0 DI, old model Hilux 3.0 diesel. The diesels are not where they should be anyway. They should be around 170-200kw, 500-600Nm. Not 110-130kw/300-350Nm. A Toyota 70 series doesn't even have optional ABS. The big domestics are over engineered. They have 300-400HP, have available leather seats, woodgrain, traction control, ABS, stability control, trailer sway control, etc all for $30-40k. A basic Hilux with nothing in it, costs more than that in Australia. I don't know why you are disputing my claim of F250s getting up to 6 figures in Australia, for even the 2002-2003 model. Look them up on www.carpoint.com.au. Remember this, I picked out my dad's Hilux SR V6 crew cab for him. But if an F-series was available in Australia for the right price... there would be no comparison! Pickups in Australia are not better. They are less-well made, more cheaply built, and cost a lot more. This is why VW is not bothering competing in the US market. This is why GM is not selling the Commodore ute in the US. Sure, some people will willingly trade off an over engineered heavier truck full of features, on something made much cheaper, lighter, less well equipped, underpowered, under-engineered truck for the gain of a couple miles per gallon. But I sure as heck wouldn't.
The domestics should offer more diesels. But they will cost a lot more, and when people vote with their wallets and not with their mouths, will they pay an extra few thousand? I loved the idea of the 4.4L V8 diesel F150 with 330HP/520lb-ft. But if it cost $3000+ more than the 400HP 6.2 Boss V8, and it was only 2-3mpg better, it wouldn't be as appealing.
I have no problem with people saying these lighter, cheaper trucks suit their needs and budgets better. But to suggest they are better trucks is a lie, or wishful thinking, or just simply lacking knowledge and experience.

This VW thingie is not coming to the US? Thew! What a relief! I read about John's troubles in the first message above. Not nice, VW! I have a friend whose Passat died on the road without any trouble signs. She ditched that piece of c***, as she finally got tired of investing money in it (bought a used Lexus instead.) In the last few years there have beed extended reports of various failures in VW engines: most notably the coil plugs... And finally, just recently I read an article on used Touaregs in the Autoreview magazine (www.autoreview.ru.) As you might guess, the whole article was nothing but a bunch of sad truth, related to VW quality... Based on these and other sources I personally do not even consider a VW, and I do not recommend it to anyone.

It looks too much like the Honda Ridgeline to me. Last I hear the Honda's were not exactly flying off the lots here in the US either.

Dunno, kinda interesting though

Alex a 2002 Brazilian built F250 does not get "six figures"..no way . I said a 2008 converted model would.
Getting 200KW(roughly 270hp) from a 3 Litre diesel would be pretty impressive.It would be pretty impressive for a US pickup.
You will find that a Holden Ute has all of that plus 400hp. Yes Pickups are cheaper in the US, so are relative wages and salaries as wel as being a bigger market.

You talk of the "domestics", "Lighter cheaper trucks", "under-engineered truck for the gain of a couple miles per gallon." "But I sure as heck wouldn't."strange terminology for an Australian?

The Toyota Hilux truly is invincible. The thing was set on fire, drowned, and blown up with a building on Top Gear, and then driven into the studio! No way one of the American trucks could do that.

Robert, I am a british-born Aussie that lives in America.
So translate my sentence to the terms "US-built" and "litres per 100km". Boot, bonnett, vegemite, Milo, Tim Tams, John Farnham. There ya go.

Volkswagen Not Planning a "Pickup Truck" For U.S. Market.....well isn't that a shame.

VW is going to make a fortune, if it can sell a 400lbs + ft 3 CRD Diesel, at Asian pickup prices. If the Pickup works they are going to make a substantial niche in the Global Picket market that is growing at an exponential rate.

"I agree w/Robert. The US has no small fuel efficient diesel trucks. Even the planned diesel F150 was dropped. The Tacoma V6 gets a sad 16/20 mpg, and the Honda Ridgeline is no better. The Amarok would be different due to the mpg, and if sold globally they would have the volume. I also read VW didn't want to bring it in due to the level of quality US buyers demand. They make fine cars, but maybe the Amarok will be lower quality- and accepted in other countries for some reason. The Ranger replacement may be coming in 2011 w/4 doors and small diesel power. Sounds good to me."
The quality problems has been a big issue with US sourced Pickups in Australia. VW has to compete with the Asian sourced Pickups, so hopefully it is up to scratch as far quality and reliabilty otherwise they have shot themselves in the foot.

There is still a possibility that Mahindra will be selling diesel pickups in the US at some point. The story this week was that they were looking to buy an auto factory, since so many have closed and are now on the market.

With Mahindra, I would be most concerned about corrosion -- vehicles in India do not have to cope with salt on the roadways.

Don't despair guys - VW would probably going to sell this shitty pickup in Europe for - as usually - way to overrated price! They could put a TDi in it and offer in USA for a price tag, of a decent, domestic full size pickup truck...

I have Jetta Diesel and it is getting 40-46 MPG, depending how I drive it. I wanted to purchase a Mid-Size Truck with Diesel but guess what. None available.

I would purchase the VW Truck.

they used to make VW diesel trucks based on the rabbit chassis.They called them VW Caddy's.
they got over 40 mpg.
used car dealer in San Diego California has one 1983 with only 60k original miles in awesome garaged condition if anyone interested. cheap collectible $6,000.00 obo.
most were ruined or rusted out in the Midwest.
not as nice as this crew cab, its pretty small.
Alot of people want them so they can convert to run on vegetable oil.

I currently drive an '88 Chevy full size pickup and plan to hold out until someone makes a midsize diesel pickup for sale in the US...come on VW...we are ready

Have been driving Ford trucks for 20 years. I am sick of the low MPG. This country is being abused by the oil companies. until an american company can come up with a truck that cnn produce 40 mpg like the foriegn companies i will no longer buy american. looking to purchase a VW deisel mid truck. have a congressman looking onto how to get one here. GO VW.

I'm ready for a small-mid sized diesel pickup. Needs 5 ft. bed. My Ford Ranger has 300,000 miles and needs a new engine. Got a diesel to put in it?

I'm ready for a small-mid sized diesel pickup. My Ford Ranger has 300,000 miles on the engine. It's a great little 4 cylinder but has no power. Bring it on, VW.