Project India 2.0 unaffected by Covid-19: Volkswagen
NEW DELHI: Despite coronavirus setback, Volkswagen Group's Project India 2.0 remains unaffected in which the German automobile manufacturer will invest €1 billion in the country over the next couple of years, a top company official said.
Volkswagen stepped up the SUV offensive since January 2020. Utilising the Auto Expo platform, the carmakers showcased the Taigun concept, T-Roc, and Tiguan AllSpace. Both the SUVs were introduced in the market in March, ahead of the lockdown.
"We are clearly focussed on our plan. Our investment strategy remains unchanged. We are going to roll out products once the lockdown is lifted. India 2.0 is on track, and completely unaffected by Covid-19," said Steffen Knapp, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India.
Taigun Concept, expected to arrive in mid-2021, will be the first-of-its-kind Volkswagen product here. A ‘made-for-India’ compact SUV, Taigun is developed on the indigenized version (MQB A0 IN) of Volkswagen Group’s globally known MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform.
Volkswagen hopes to tactfully drive the India strategy and realize the vision to become a sustainable brand with a 3% market share. However, due to Covid-19, the plans could be delayed but anything hasn't been scrapped off, Knapp added.
Similarly, Volkswagen is keening anticipating the used car segment to boom post-lockdown. With safety and hygiene a priority post-lockdown, the passenger vehicles segment is likely to grow, thinks Knapp. In India, Volkswagen currently offers the BS6-ready Polo, Ameo and Vento alongside the new products T-Roc and Tiguan AllSpace.
"We sold around 20,000 pre-used in 2019. Currently, we have 105 outlets across the country, which are fully digitised. The impact of Covid-19 will stay after the lockdown. People will pay more attention to personal safety, hence, they will prefer their own vehicles," Knapp said. Volkswagen retailed certified second-hand cars through a specialised arm - Das WeltAuto.
The Covid-19 lockdown in the country has forced most manufacturing sectors to take the backseat, especially the automobile industry which is facing the heat of labour shortage and supply chain disruption.
Three industry bodies of the automotive sector -- SIAM, ACMA and FADA -- have urged the government to allow the entire value chain in the auto industry to re-commence operations in unison.
Commenting on the FY20-21 outlook, Knapp said, "China took around 6-8 weeks to resume manufacturing after the Covid-19 outbreak. The situation here, however, is a little different. Even after the lockdown is lifted, the workers have to travel back. We as manufacturers are dependent on the supply chain to resume as well."
Volkswagen stepped up the SUV offensive since January 2020. Utilising the Auto Expo platform, the carmakers showcased the Taigun concept, T-Roc, and Tiguan AllSpace. Both the SUVs were introduced in the market in March, ahead of the lockdown.
"We are clearly focussed on our plan. Our investment strategy remains unchanged. We are going to roll out products once the lockdown is lifted. India 2.0 is on track, and completely unaffected by Covid-19," said Steffen Knapp, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India.
Taigun Concept, expected to arrive in mid-2021, will be the first-of-its-kind Volkswagen product here. A ‘made-for-India’ compact SUV, Taigun is developed on the indigenized version (MQB A0 IN) of Volkswagen Group’s globally known MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform.
Volkswagen hopes to tactfully drive the India strategy and realize the vision to become a sustainable brand with a 3% market share. However, due to Covid-19, the plans could be delayed but anything hasn't been scrapped off, Knapp added.
Similarly, Volkswagen is keening anticipating the used car segment to boom post-lockdown. With safety and hygiene a priority post-lockdown, the passenger vehicles segment is likely to grow, thinks Knapp. In India, Volkswagen currently offers the BS6-ready Polo, Ameo and Vento alongside the new products T-Roc and Tiguan AllSpace.
"We sold around 20,000 pre-used in 2019. Currently, we have 105 outlets across the country, which are fully digitised. The impact of Covid-19 will stay after the lockdown. People will pay more attention to personal safety, hence, they will prefer their own vehicles," Knapp said. Volkswagen retailed certified second-hand cars through a specialised arm - Das WeltAuto.
The Covid-19 lockdown in the country has forced most manufacturing sectors to take the backseat, especially the automobile industry which is facing the heat of labour shortage and supply chain disruption.
Three industry bodies of the automotive sector -- SIAM, ACMA and FADA -- have urged the government to allow the entire value chain in the auto industry to re-commence operations in unison.
Commenting on the FY20-21 outlook, Knapp said, "China took around 6-8 weeks to resume manufacturing after the Covid-19 outbreak. The situation here, however, is a little different. Even after the lockdown is lifted, the workers have to travel back. We as manufacturers are dependent on the supply chain to resume as well."
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