NEW DELHI: European car major Volkswagen is likely to rope in Maruti Suzuki for developing an all-new small car below the Polo. The engagement between the companies — an offshoot of Volkswagen's purchase of a 20% stake in Maruti's Japanese parent Suzuki late last year — could see greater synergies as they work on a long list of possible joint projects, Volkswagen Group's board member Christian Klingler told TOI.
Klingler, in-charge of VW group's global sales and marketing operations, was here for unveiling the company's entry-level sedan 'Vento' that will be out in the last quarter of this year.
Speaking on the company's plans in small cars, he said while the Polo was its first compact in India, VW had also started work on developing a new small car that would be placed below the Polo in pricing and positioned in the mass-market segment. And, it's one of the possibilities that VW would take the help of Maruti in developing this car, considering its expertise in compacts and its strong understanding of the market, Klinger added.
"We cannot say anything definitive at this moment, though this possibility cannot be excluded. There can be a lot of things to be learnt, cooperated," Klingler said.
He said "very good exchanges" were currently underway between top officials from both the companies to thrash out common strategies, not only for India but for other crucial markets. "India does play an important role in this partnership."
Klingler said a "long list of projects were in the pipeline" and these could include a joint product strategy. "However, it is too early to speak anything concrete about common products."
It must be mentioned here that teams from both VW and Maruti have begun exploratory work for joint projects and have visited the facilities of each other for wider engagement. When contacted, a spokesperson for Maruti said, "Matters between Suzuki and VW are being discussed at their respective headquarters. We have no further comment."
Klingler, in-charge of VW group's global sales and marketing operations, was here for unveiling the company's entry-level sedan 'Vento' that will be out in the last quarter of this year.
Speaking on the company's plans in small cars, he said while the Polo was its first compact in India, VW had also started work on developing a new small car that would be placed below the Polo in pricing and positioned in the mass-market segment. And, it's one of the possibilities that VW would take the help of Maruti in developing this car, considering its expertise in compacts and its strong understanding of the market, Klinger added.
"We cannot say anything definitive at this moment, though this possibility cannot be excluded. There can be a lot of things to be learnt, cooperated," Klingler said.
He said "very good exchanges" were currently underway between top officials from both the companies to thrash out common strategies, not only for India but for other crucial markets. "India does play an important role in this partnership."
Klingler said a "long list of projects were in the pipeline" and these could include a joint product strategy. "However, it is too early to speak anything concrete about common products."
It must be mentioned here that teams from both VW and Maruti have begun exploratory work for joint projects and have visited the facilities of each other for wider engagement. When contacted, a spokesperson for Maruti said, "Matters between Suzuki and VW are being discussed at their respective headquarters. We have no further comment."
TOI
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