The love bug is finally touching down on Indian soil.
volkswagen beetle
The love bug is finally touching down on Indian soil. Volkswagen Beetle will hit showrooms on December 4 and what comes attached with loads of “cho-chweet” looks is a high import duty. The import duty of over 100% pushes the adorable small car’s price tag to a not-so-adorable territory. Grabbing a copy of the Beetle in India will set you back by a massive Rs. 20 lakhs which crowns it with the title of the most expensive small car in India. The Beetle will be imported as CBUs (completely built units) and that’s the key reason for the premium pricing.
To make up to the VW loyalists who can’t get their hands on a VW small car, the company will also be launching one of its best sellers, the Polo. The Rs. 4.5 lakh car will be joining the line-up in January. The Polo will be the least priced car in the VW stable in India and will compete with the likes of Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Hyundai i10 and Aveo U-VA.
“We will soon be introducing new car models like Beetle or Polo in India to enhance our presence in the market, besides providing technologically advanced cars for Indian customers. Our factory in Pune is ready for the start of production of Polo, which will be launched during the upcoming Auto Expo 2010,” Joerg Mueller, president and managing director, Volkswagen India, said.
The Polo is expected to be manufactured at the company’s new plant in Pune with two probable engine options – 1.2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre TDI diesel.
VW Group has a marked presence in the Indian automotive sector with three of its major brands – Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen – covering different price ranges and customer choices. The Volkswagen brand has three models on sale as of now comprising of two sedans (Jetta and Passat) and an SUV (Touraeg).
Entry by: Sanjoy Alexander