German auto company Volkswagen started the production of its small car Polo in India this week. The five-seater hatchback is being produced at the company’s plant at Chakan, near Pune, and will compete with cars in the already crowded B+ segment, including Hyundai’s i20, Maruti’s Swift and Chevrolet’s Beat. It will come in both petrol and diesel variants, and will initially have 50 per cent localised content. The Skoda Fabia is also produced at the same plant.
In the coming years, the company is also planning to launch another volume generating small car, positioned below the Polo. Mr Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, told mediapersons that the company may consider its ‘Up!’ model for launch in India. A series of concept versions of the car were displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year.
With its slew of new launches, the company hopes to increase its market share in India to 10 per cent by the year 2015.
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