VW CHAKAN PLANT INAUGURATED

 

German automaker Volkswagen will fight in the Indian car market and in the long term is looking to capture 8-10 per cent market share, Dr Jochem Heizmann, Member, Board of Management, Volkswagen A.G., has said.

 

The Maharashtra Governor, Mr S.C. Jamir, inaugurated the companys greenfield facility at Chakan.  The plant has begun trial production of group company Skodas compact car Fabia. Commercial production is to start in a months time.

 

Stating that India had a strategic position for the VW Group, Dr Heizmann declined to comment on targeted sales numbers but said, We will fight in this market. He added that VW was preparing to sell Light Commercial Vehicles as well and would start with the Multivan.

 

Polo rollout

The first VW product to roll out of the Chakan facility will be VW Polo, in early 2010. The hatchback version will be followed by a notchback (sedan) later next year.

Developed specially for the Indian market, the Polo will begin with around 50 per cent local content, and aim to achieve 80 per cent localisation in two to three years, Dr Heizmann said.

 

With an installed capacity of 110,000 units, the new VW facility is the 61st plant worldwide in the production network of the nine-brand group.  Built with an investment of 580 million, the company expects to employ 2,500 people here by the end of 2010.

To mark the opening of the new plant, Mr Jorg Muller, President and Managing Director, VW Group India, presented an ambulance to the Red Cross Hospital in Pune.