Why? The upper class is the one least affected by inflation. Just look how the stock market is doing. Even in bad times, luxury brands are selling just fine, this has been proven time and time again. Have you seen sales of Bugattis, Ferraris or McLarens slowing down?
The problem is, VW is not a luxury brand, it's an expensive commodity, making it the first thing avenge people axe in tough times.
Selling 100 cars for 20k each sounds better than selling 2 for 200k.
Upper class don't buy VW.
VW is a posh brand for the middle class which has now been wiped out by inflation and rising CoL, that's why they aren't selling.
I'm surprised I have to spell out obvious stuff like this.
Mercedes has always been the car for the middle class to aim for to show you made it, if that was the kind of thing that was important to you. Sure they also serve the upper class, but then again Volkswagen has Audi for that. And I'd be surprised if sales of the expensive models made the lions share, but I have to check.
But at least in my bubble I see even folks with money turn away from these kind of cars. It's like the car is losing its role as a status symbol.
I never said that. You're going with offtopic parallels instead of addressing the arguments I'm making.