Volkswagen is going disruptive! Has brand new plans for India

After being named as the world’s largest car maker this year, Volkswagen (VW) is now looking forward to take over the potential markets with India being the main target along with China and Brazil. As per a news report, the German car maker is planning to develop ‘hybrid vehicles’.

Requesting anonymity, a company insiders informed The Economic Times that Volkswagen is planning to develop new vehicle architecture of its much publicised $70-billion MQB design and the PQ platform, which is widely used in emerging markets.

The new platform has internally been named as 'Emerging Market MQB A0'. The firm is aiming to manufacture a maximum number of vehicles for the entire VW Group and the list might include Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi and Skoda. In a bid to take over the competition aggressively, the company is also planning to carry on the project without any major subsequent investments and in the shortest time span possible.

The company insiders revealed that the first launch under the MQB A0 might be the Vento NF – Nache Folger – which means a successor in German, is expected by 2018-19. Eventually, all the models sold in India (Polo, Vento, Fabia, Rapid and a few utility vehicles) would move to this modern architecture, giving the company flexibility.

The official spokesperson of the company, however, didn’t disclose any such plans and said that the company "cannot comment on the future and upcoming plans and products right now."

The company’s sales in India have grown by 19% in the first seven months of this year. Exports, too, have grown in line, making up for over 55-60% of company's production.

As per the company sources, after having produced 1 lakh units in India in 2014, the company is targeting 1.25 lakh vehicles this year. The plan is to take production to 1.5 lakh in 2016, with a new Indian compact sedan hitting the market in the festival season of next year to bridge the product action plan before the MQB cars get produced.

Its manufacturing line at Chakan in Maharashtra is expected to be expanded to accommodate the new car.

Apart from Volkswagen, other auto giants too are strengthening their market lineup. Recently, General Motors has announced a $5-billion emerging market product plan to boost its growth.

Image: Indiatimes