Volkswagen has begun shipping the first units of the Taos from the Puebla plant in Mexico to the United States two months after production for export markets kicked off.

The first batch of small crossovers departed on board the Mediterranean Highway vessel, which is part of the fleet used by the Volkswagen Group, on Friday, destined for different ports nationwide.

“With the departure of the first units of the new Taos to the U.S. market, Volkswagen de Mexico completes one more goal in time, marking the success story of this SUV, despite the challenges in their manufacturing due to the Coronavirus pandemic”, said VW’s Director of Production for the North American Region, Susanne Lehmann. “We estimate that this model will have very good acceptance in the North American market, which recognizes the quality of vehicles made in Mexico by Volkswagen.”

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Presented back in October in the Latin America- and U.S.-specs, the 2022 Taos is a compact SUV that looks identical on the outside in both configurations, save for the side marker lamps that are mandatory north of the Mexican border. There are more differences in the cockpit, as the one for Latin America features the VW Play infotainment system shared with the Nivus, while the North American variant uses the MIB3 interface and an 8-inch touchscreen display.

Powering Latin America’s 2022 Taos is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, understood to produce 148 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque. The North American version is offered with a 158 HP and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) 1.5-liter turbo-four hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. A seven-speed DSG is also available, albeit with the optional all-wheel drive system.

Pricing will be announced shortly, but since it is positioned under the Tiguan, it will be more affordable than its larger sibling that has a starting MSRP of $25,245.

Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market
Mexican-Made VW Taos Already On Its Way To The U.S. Market