MUMBAI: Volkswagen may
consider launching a utility
vehicle in India as the German
car giant looks to expand its
portfolio, President and MD
Gerry Dorizas has said.
"Different growth segments of
multi-purpose vehicles or
sports utility vehicles and
small cars are the part of
vision we have (for India),"
Dorizas said on Tuesday. "We
have to take small strides," he added.
He said Volkswagen will develop its India
business further, but only after putting the
fundamental structure in place.
Global rivals Renault and Maruti Suzuki have
managed to generate sizeable volumes from
their recently launched SUVs. The segment is
also growing rapidly at a time when demand
other type of vehicles is sluggish. Dorizas says
the current focus is to build a strong foundation
on the existing products, dealers, sales & after
sales service.
Volkswagen India has been dabbling with the
idea of bringing in the premium SUV 'Tiguan'
those shares its underpinnings with the recently
launched Audi Q3. The company has also
globally showcased a couple of utility vehicles
concept called "Volkswagen space up! Concept"
and "Bulli Concept" which may spawn utility
vehicles for Volkswagen to compete with Ford
Ecosport, Renault Duster and the Maruti Ertiga in
the future.
Volkswagen India, one of the late entrants in the
fast growing passenger car markets in the
world, initially attracted a good response to its
premium hatchback Polo and sedan Vento, but
could not sustain the momentum in 2012. After
doubling sales in 2010 and 2011, VW India's
numbers in the first half of 2012 declined 3.4
pc.
"I have total trust on the management and our
board of directors, I think they have a listening
head, but we are still in discussion, we are still
creating plans. There are a lot of things, which
are under development, I think there will be a
time when we would be able to share that with
you," Dorizas said. He acknowledged that
margin pressure will continue to remain.
"Pressure on the margins is an on going thing. It
is all changing, we all have to be in touch with
changes, we told our dealers, we are team, we
have to go all the way and discuss with them in
a difficult market condition and adapt ourselves
to changes." To cut Polo, Vento prices
Volkswagen Tuesday said it will cut prices of the
high-end variants of its Polo and Vento sedans
and add a host of new features to boost sales. It
will cut prices of the both diesel and petrol
variants of Polo by up to Rs 40,000 and of the
Vento by Rs 20,000. The Polo highline petrol will
now come for Rs 584,400 as against Rs 624,409
(ex-showroom New Delhi). The Polo diesel
variant price has been reduced to Rs 694,400
from Rs 736,407, ex-showroom Delhi. "The
introduction of new features in Polo and Vento
will further excite the customers as both the
carlines will offer much more value now... ,"
said Arvind Saxena, managing director,
Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
Volkswagen to expand India business, may launch Utility Vehicles - The Economic Times on Mobile
How do you get up there? Carry your own ladder...? Thanks man, that's got my belly aching from laughing so much.
