Mexico will produce the new VW Tarek mini-SUV for North America

Volkswagen stopped the production of its iconic Beetle series in Pueblo, Mexico, several days ago. The company intends to use the freed production line capacity to start assembling the Tarek compact crossover/SUV series for the U.S. market.

VW’s Pueblo factory is currently producing Jettas and Tiguans. The Tarek will only join the range in late 2020. The first shipments will arrive in the authorized dealerships throughout the United States in early 2021, the company says. Apparently, the factory staff has to complete education courses before it is admitted to the assembly lines.

The Volkswagen Tarek is mostly analogous to the China-sold Tharu and utilizes the modular MQB architecture. Compared to its Eastern counterpart, it will get a stronger engine range and most likely better equipment.

The Chinese VW Tharu ships with a selection of turbocharged four-cylinder engines rated between 114 and 187 horsepower (85 – 139 kW). The only available transmission is 7-seven speed DCT, and the only drive configuration is FWD.

It is reported that the Tarek will be the single most expensive SUV on Volkswagen’s US lineup, but the specific prices remain unannounced.