OK, it’s a trick question, since the 2012 Passat is produced in a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although the car is built here, it was designed in Germany but specifically to appeal to the American market. European Passats are smaller, and Volkswagen believes that we Yankees prefer larger family sedans. The folks back in Germany want this model, and the new Jetta, to become larger volume sellers in the US, with a goal of dramatically increasing sales in the States in the next few years. So they are aiming to compete with stalwart family sedans like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata.
The Passat is designed to cast a wide net in the pricing department. The base Passat starts at $19,995 with a 5-speed manual transmission, and the standard 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder engine putting out 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. At the other end of the pricing spectrum, our test car, a V6 SEL Premium model, starts at $32,950, with eight versions in between. That’s more models than a Victoria’s Secret catalogue.
http://www.autoguide.com/manufacturer/volkswagen/2012-volkswagen-passat-sel-v6-review-1810.html