Get your automotive data ad-free: become a premium member today!

Volkswagen Quantum Sales Figures

Volkswagen Quantum

The second generation Volkswagen Passat was sold as the Quantum in the United States. It replaced the Volkswagen Dasher in 1982. The third generation was introduced in 1990 and was finally renamed Passat.

Volkswagen Quantum Overview

The Volkswagen Quantum, known in other parts of the world as the Volkswagen Passat or Santana, is a mid-sized car that was produced by the German automaker Volkswagen from the early 1980s to the late 1980s in the North American market. Globally, the car was primarily known as the Volkswagen Passat, and the Quantum name was specific to the North American market. In South America and other regions, it was also called the Volkswagen Santana. The Quantum was a part of the B2 platform, which also underpinned other VW group vehicles such as the Audi 80/90.

The Quantum was available in various body styles, including a sedan, wagon, and a two-door coupe (though the coupe was rare in North America). Over its production run, the Quantum was offered with a range of gasoline and diesel engines, including inline-4 and inline-5 configurations. Some versions in North America even featured Volkswagen’s Syncro all-wheel-drive system, which was rather advanced for the period. Both manual and automatic transmissions were available depending on the model year and trim level.

Volkswagen Quantum Sales Figures

In the North American market, the Quantum was positioned as a more upscale, European alternative to domestic and some Japanese competitors in the mid-sized segment. The Quantum received praise for its handling, build quality, and the efficiency of its diesel variants. However, it didn’t achieve significant sales success in North America, especially compared to its Japanese competitors.

Volkswagen Quantum U.S Sales Data & Charts

US Annual Sales

Year Sales Units
1982 8,570
1983 16,094
1984 16,955
1985 15,597
1986 11,779
1987 6,655
1988 3,030
1989 936
1990 46
1991 2

US Annual Growth

Latest from GCBC on this subject

Daily Tracker
Oil Crisis Monitor
Updated: Oct 20, 2026 — 4:25 AM MT
Strait of Hormuz
233
Days
Day 233 — Houthi strike kills 53+ at a Shabwa camp (Yemeni officials). The strait remains closed.
Day 233: Yemeni officials say a Houthi missile strike on a Shabwa training camp killed at least 53 soldiers; Riyadh reports a missile intercepted.
Brent Crude
+49.8% since closure
$109.55
/bbl
Today: −$0.31 (−0.3%)
U.S. Gas Avg
+42.6% since closure
$4.28
/gal
Today: −$0.02
WTI Crude
+50.2% since closure
$103.66
/bbl
Today: +$2.25 (+2.2%)
Next
IMF PortWatch weekly Hormuz chokepoint update
Today
Oct 20
USMCA Tariffs
25% IEEPA + 232 duties
IN EFFECT
202
Day
2026 SAAR Forecast
16.1–16.8M
▼ 16.8M
prev. forecast
View Full Tracker →
Public agencies & commodity exchanges