BERND LEISSNER, PRESIDENT OF VOLKSWAGEN MEXICO DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS, 1999-03-22 (photo)

Bernd Leissner, president of Volkswagen Mexico, gestures during an interview with Reuters March 17 in Mexico's Volkswagen plant in the eastern state of Puebla. Leissner said that the company plans $200 million in plant renovations this year. Mexican subsidiary of German carmaker Volkswagen, the only plant in the world making New Beetles, will produce a record 400,000 VWs of different models in 1999 and most of the New Beetles will be exported to Canada, the United States and Europe. Between 25,000 and 30,000 of the Jettas will be sold in Mexico. HR/TRA/AA