Volkswagen to Launch Polo Sedan, Hatchbacks

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

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Skoda to Unveil Three Fabia Variants

09/03/2009 The Economic Times

Skoda Auto India, part of Europes largest-carmaker Volkswagen, will launch three new variants of its flagship hatchback Fabia, including a new sports model this year, a top company executive said, reports Chanchal Pal Chauhan.

The new sports car, Fabia Sportline, will have newly-designed interiors and alloy wheels. It will be fired by a powerful 1800-cc engine to cater to the growing demand for sports vehicles. The existing Fabia range comes with 1200-1600 cc engine capacity.

We will launch multiple variants of the Fabia to leverage on its popularity. We will introduce Fabia Combi (estate version) and the tallboy Roomster models to consolidate the brand in the Indian market. We will also showcase the Fabia Rally car, though it will not be available for retail sale, Skodas head (sales and marketing) Thomas Kuehl said.

Skoda, the maker of premium cars, is among the few auto makers whose sales have increased in the domestic market when total auto sales have declined due to the financial meltdown. Its sales grew 22% to 11,309 cars in the April-December period. Fabia is its largest selling brand and the company sold over 7,000 cars in 2008, the first year of its launch.

Currently, Fabia is assembled at Skodas Aurangabad facility that will move to Volkswagens upcoming plant at Pune in Maharashtra in April-May. Skoda will also launch the next generation models of sedans Superb and Laura in the next few months.

We have finalised plans to launch the next generation Superb in India and the new Laura will hit the market in the middle of 2009. We want to remain the segment leader in the Rs 10-25 lakh bracket, Mr Kuehl said.

The company will also venture into the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment with the launch of its Yeti model in early 2010, expected to be priced around Rs 10 lakh. It will expand its dealership network to 60 this year. In a bid to augment spare part supplies from its European facilities, Skoda has set up a warehouse at Aurangabad at an investment of Rs 12 crore

Volkswagen Group Largest car manufacturer in Europe

The Volkswagen Group is the largest car manufacturer in Europe and is also a global giant of the auto industry. VW annually provides customers with an average of more than 5 million cars – giving it a 12% share of the world car market.

VW Group has two separate groups of brands – Audi and Volkswagen. Its aim is to offer attractive, safe and environmentally friendly cars of various classes. The Audi group includes the brands Audi, Seat and Lamborghini. The Volkswagen group comprises the brands Volkswagen, Škoda, Bentley and Bugatti. Each brand has its own specific character and is quite autonomous on the market.

VW group cars are produced in 45 factories in 11 European countries and in another 7 countries in America, Asia and Africa. More than 336,000 VW group employees produce 21,500 cars around the world in one working day. VW Group models are sold in more than 150 countries around the world.

Soruce: http://www.skoda-auto.co.in/ind/about/perspective/vw/Pages/VWGroup.aspx

Porsche Panamera may hit Indian roads by Sep 2009

Panamera, the new car from Porsche is likely to roll out in India by Sep 2009, after making its European debut in late summer 2009. Sources say that that Precision Car India (its sole importer in the country) has already ordered 50 units of Panamera.

The new Porsche Panamera comes with a wide range of features quite unparalleled in the premium segment. Among all the characteristics typical of a genuine Porsche the extra-low and sleek coupe silhouette, that offers ample space inside for four passengers and variable loading space for luggage.

The Panamera also proudly boasts of power units offering a high standard of fuel efficiency and low exhaust emission without compromising on performance. All power units featured in the Panamera are modern V-engines with either six or eight cylinders covering a power range from 300 - 500 bhp and featuring Direct Fuel Injection. The new car will be priced above. Rs. 86 lakh for the Indian market.

Porsche India, which sold 168 units last year, has set a target of 250 units in the current year.

Source: http://news.infibeam.com/blog/news/2009/02/07/porsche_panamera_may_hit_indian_roads_by_sep_2009.html

Porsche takes over VW

German carmaker Porsche has taken over Europe’s biggest auto company Volkswagen by acquiring more than 50 per cent shares of the company. With this move, Porsche, a family-run company which makes 100,000 premium sports cars every year has taken over a company whose annual production exceeds 5 million cars. Porsche plans to increase its stake in VW to 75 per cent by the end of the year 2009. A 75 per cent ownership would give Porsche full financial control over VW. The Managing Director of Porsche India, Rod Wallace, said that the acquisition will not affect the functioning of either company in India. Both Porsche and VW will continue to operate as separate brands.

Source: http://www.driveinside.com/News/Headlines/5I0CKE/Porsche-takes-over-VW.aspx

Here's a chance to get up close with the Beetle

MUMBAI: The inaugural day of the Mumbai International Motor Show was marked by Volkswagen’s first public display of its marque brand, the Beetle, in the country. The show, organised by the Times of India, on Thursday also witnessed the launch Linea by Fiat and Xylo by M&M.

Uwe Bodendiek, head of sales and dealer network, Volkswagen told ET: "This is an important platform. As far as the Beetle is concerned, we would be bringing it to India (importing) within 15 months depending on the response."

Sujoy Ghosh, director, Times Group, said some of the best cars were on display at the show. The Times Group launched a special commemorative issue of Zigwheels magazine.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Auto/Heres_a_chance_to_get_up_close_with_the_Beetle/articleshow/3986068.cms

Here's a chance to get up close with the Beetle

MUMBAI: The inaugural day of the Mumbai International Motor Show was marked by Volkswagen’s first public display of its marque brand, the Beetle, in the country. The show, organised by the Times of India, on Thursday also witnessed the launch Linea by Fiat and Xylo by M&M.

Uwe Bodendiek, head of sales and dealer network, Volkswagen told ET: "This is an important platform. As far as the Beetle is concerned, we would be bringing it to India (importing) within 15 months depending on the response."

Sujoy Ghosh, director, Times Group, said some of the best cars were on display at the show. The Times Group launched a special commemorative issue of Zigwheels magazine.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Auto/Heres_a_chance_to_get_up_close_with_the_Beetle/articleshow/3986068.cms

Audi, Volkswagen cut prices by up to Rs 2.79 lakh

Date:Dec-17-2008 13:10
Audi and Volkswagen, German car makers on Tuesday in response to the government''s move to cut CENVAT by four per cent, cut the prices of their products by up to Rs 2.79 lakh and Rs 80,859 respectively. Audi India said in a statement. Audi has reduced the prices of its luxury sedans A8, A6 and A4 by Rs 2.79 lakh, Rs 1.51 lakh and Rs 1.21 lakh, while the company''s sports utility vehicle Q7 would be cheaper by Rs 1.85 lakh.Likewise, Volkswagen has slashed the prices of its sedan Jetta between Rs 46,086 and Rs 57,814. The car maker''s luxury sedan Passat would now be cheaper by Rs 75,674-Rs 80,859 across India.