Volkswagen Beetle to launch on 4th December

Auto major Volkswagen ready to launch its awaited premium hatchback model Volkswagen Beetle in Indian market on 4th of this December. The Volkswagen Beetle price will lead to high end because of heavy import duty. According to the company official Volkswagen Beetle price will fall in the range of Rs 18 to 20 lacs. After the launch Volkswagen Beetle will be the costliest hatchback model in Indian auto market. Volkswagen also plans to launch its mid segment small car model Volkswagen Polo that might be hit Indian roads in the month of January next year. Volkswagen Polo price will fall in the range of Rs 4 to 5 lacs and it will be the cheapest vehicle from Volkswagen product portfolio in Indian market.
 

A Volkswagen dealer said that after the two years of the announcement of the launch of Volkswagen Beetle, finally it will hit the Indian road on 4th of this December. He added that Volkswagen will bring it to India as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) that leads its price to high end because of heavy import duty thus Volkswagen Beetle will be priced at around Rs 20 lacs.

Volkswagen India, President and MD, Joerg Mueller said, “We are going to launch new cars models like Volkswagen Beetle and Volkswagen Polo in Indian auto market to make our presence in the market more strong, besides providing technologically advanced new cars for Indian customers. Our factory in Pune is ready for the start of production of Volkswagen Polo, which will be launched during the upcoming Auto Expo 2010.”

Volkswagen India is currently selling Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Touareg in Indian market. Volkswagen Jetta and Volkswagen Passat are sedan models while Volkswagen Touareg is a SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) that brings in India as a CBU but very soon it will be launched in Indian market and its production will start here also. With the launch of Volkswagen Polo, company plans to make its position stronger also inhatchback segment and its competitive price range will surely make it able to compete other cars of this segment like Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Aveo UVA.

The company brings Volkswagen Beetle as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) so it is expected that its delivery will take time. The higher price tag of Volkswagen Beetle might make its way tough in Indian auto market which is dominated by mid segment hatchback cars and where more than 70 per cent car buyers comes for the cars that priced in the range of Rs 3 to 5 lacs. However, after the launch Volkswagen Beetle will compete with Fiat 500 and awaiting Fiat Bravo that might be launched in Indian market by the mid of next year.