Details Europe's largest car maker, Volkswagen AG, is set to launch a hatchback as well as a sedan based on the 'Polo' platform in India next year. Both these models will roll out of VW's Pune facility which is being inaugurated on Tuesday.
With these launches, India would become the only market where both versions of the Polo are made available simultaneously. The hatchback Polo -- which is being modified to suit Indian conditions --would be launched in the first quarter of 2010 and the sedan version would be out by the second half.
A VW spokesperson told DNA that both the Polo variants would be positioned at the premium end of their respective segments. He also confirmed VW's plans to bring the VW Beetle into India by the end of 2009. The 1.1 lakh unit greenfield manufacturing site at Chakan (Pune) would initially begin making the Skoda Fabia from May this year. The Fabia is currently being manufactured at the company's facility in Aurangabad. The Pune facility would need an investment of about Rs 3,800 crore, which VW is bringing in phases.
The plant is important for VW's operations in India since it would provide a significant increase in the manufacturing capacity - the only other facility (at Aurangabad) can make only 30,000 cars every year.
Also, it would be interesting to see if there is any significant cannibalisation between Fabia and Polo hatchback sales going forward -- both cars would be positioned at the premium price bracket and carry the same lineage.
Perhaps keeping the diverse needs of the Indian market in mind, VW has also put in place a clear structure for the different brands within three group companies. Skoda India is based at Aurangabad and looks after the assembly and sales of Skoda cars from there.
Volkswagen India is base in Pune and would be henceforth responsible for the manufacturing operation at Chakan (Polo variants and Fabia to begin with). Then, Volkswagen Group Sales India is the umbrella company comprising the passenger car sales division of VW and Audi brands, VW Commercial Vehicles and also VW Financial Services and this company is based in Mumbai.
Joerg Mueller heads both VW India and VW Group Sales India as the president and managing director. Skoda India is headed by Karsten Bogun.
The three distinct brands are each looked after by the CEO. Neeraj Garg has been brought in from Nissan to look after the Volkswagen brand, Thomas Kuehl looks after Skoda whereas Benoit Tiers is responsible for Audi brand sales.
Like many other multinational car makers, the VW group has made a clear distinction between the manufacturing and marketing/sales functions for each of its brands in India.
The group sells 14 different cars here across the three brands besides two products in the commercial vehicle segment - Craster and Multi Van
With these launches, India would become the only market where both versions of the Polo are made available simultaneously. The hatchback Polo -- which is being modified to suit Indian conditions --would be launched in the first quarter of 2010 and the sedan version would be out by the second half.
A VW spokesperson told DNA that both the Polo variants would be positioned at the premium end of their respective segments. He also confirmed VW's plans to bring the VW Beetle into India by the end of 2009. The 1.1 lakh unit greenfield manufacturing site at Chakan (Pune) would initially begin making the Skoda Fabia from May this year. The Fabia is currently being manufactured at the company's facility in Aurangabad. The Pune facility would need an investment of about Rs 3,800 crore, which VW is bringing in phases.
The plant is important for VW's operations in India since it would provide a significant increase in the manufacturing capacity - the only other facility (at Aurangabad) can make only 30,000 cars every year.
Also, it would be interesting to see if there is any significant cannibalisation between Fabia and Polo hatchback sales going forward -- both cars would be positioned at the premium price bracket and carry the same lineage.
Perhaps keeping the diverse needs of the Indian market in mind, VW has also put in place a clear structure for the different brands within three group companies. Skoda India is based at Aurangabad and looks after the assembly and sales of Skoda cars from there.
Volkswagen India is base in Pune and would be henceforth responsible for the manufacturing operation at Chakan (Polo variants and Fabia to begin with). Then, Volkswagen Group Sales India is the umbrella company comprising the passenger car sales division of VW and Audi brands, VW Commercial Vehicles and also VW Financial Services and this company is based in Mumbai.
Joerg Mueller heads both VW India and VW Group Sales India as the president and managing director. Skoda India is headed by Karsten Bogun.
The three distinct brands are each looked after by the CEO. Neeraj Garg has been brought in from Nissan to look after the Volkswagen brand, Thomas Kuehl looks after Skoda whereas Benoit Tiers is responsible for Audi brand sales.
Like many other multinational car makers, the VW group has made a clear distinction between the manufacturing and marketing/sales functions for each of its brands in India.
The group sells 14 different cars here across the three brands besides two products in the commercial vehicle segment - Craster and Multi Van
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