Carefree Maintenance Program announced for all 2009 models

Today, Volkswagen has announced the Carefree Maintenance Program for its entire 2009 model lineup. This program means that for the length of the limited warranty (3 years/36,000 miles) on your MY2009 vehicle, Volkswagen will do all the scheduled maintenance for free. Useful if your car was a Tiguan, which requires 3 scheduled maintenance service stops, or a Routan, which requires 6. Good thing, then, that the program will launch with these vehicles. A program like this isn't actually new. What is new, however, is that Volkswagen is the first non-luxury marque to have something like this. Audi and BMW has had something similar for years.

Press release after the jump.

Source: Volkswagen

VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES CAREFREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

Program designed to improve owner loyalty and brand distinction

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program on its entire 2009 model line. With this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in each vehicle's maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty-three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The Carefree Maintenance Program will launch with the introduction of the Tiguan, Volkswagen's all-new crossover utility vehicle.

"Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance Program is a great way to improve our owner loyalty for our brand, as well as increase consumer consideration" said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "This program also differentiates us from our competition by allowing us to be the only automaker among our key competitors to offer a no-charge maintenance program" added Barnes.

The maintenance intervals covered under this program and detailed in each vehicle's maintenance booklet are 10K, 20K, and 30K miles for all 2009 model year Volkswagens. Since all current Volkswagens use synthetic oil, combined with state-of-the-art European engineering, a 5K oil change is no longer necessary. This means that Volkswagen customers can drive further between oil changes.

This program also covers the forthcoming Routan, Volkswagen's all-new seven passenger minivan, which arrives in dealer showrooms later this year. Maintenance intervals for the Routan are 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K and 36K.

The Carefree Maintenance Program also includes a courtesy vehicle check. This allows owners to return to the dealership from which they purchased their 2009 model year Volkswagen within 90 days or 6,000 miles, whichever occurs first, for a full review of the vehicles benefits and features, and to have their vehicle checked at no charge.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com.