Comment: " ...VW produces its high end products primarily in Germany where the wages and benefits are very generous. The key here is their " high end vehicles."...

The German automakers never fell into the trap of the North American Big 3 - producing garbage cars with out-to-lunch union wages ( $US 150K/Yr loaded labour ) before going bankrupt. Customers have very long memories - and the Big 3 thereby handed a significant sector of their automotive market to the competition - Japan and Europe at the time.