Volkswagen India, the Indian subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen has inaugurated its first Engine Assembly Plant in India at Chakan near Pune. The plant was launched open by Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra on January 27, 2015. The setting up of the new plant has seen an investment of Rs 240 Crore by the Volkswagen Group in India.
The new plant has a potential capacity of producing more than 98,000 engines annually which will comprise of 1.5 L TDI engine manufactured for 2 power levels, 90 PS and 105 PS peak power.
Setup within the existing Volkswagen plant at Chakan, the assembly unit is spread across 3,450 square meter of area. It took 11 months to setup the plant with the help of experts from Volkswagen’s Engine Plants in Salzgitter, Germany and Polkowice, Poland. Also a part of the plant is an Engine Testing Facility with a Test station, a Hot Test bench and an Engine Dynamometer in addition to an extensive engine test laboratory.
Chief Minister Mr. Fadnavis commended the investment by the Volkswagen Group stating that the carmaker’s commitment to Indian car market is creating various jobs in the industrial sector. More than 260 direct jobs will be created with the setting up of the engine assembly unit.
Also present at the inaugural of the new plant were Hon’ble Minister for Industries (Government of Maharashtra) Mr. Subhash Desai, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Shirur (Maharashtra) Mr. Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil and Member of Legislative Assembly (Maharashtra) Mr. Suresh Gore.
Commenting about the new engine plant, Mr. Mahesh Kodumudi Chief Representative for Volkswagen Group India and President and Managing Director Volkswagen India Private Limited stated the 1.5 liter engine has been specially developed for Indian conditions. He added this is a step towards increasing the automaker’s long term goal of increasing local content and is in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government.