| German automaker Volkswagen will be pulling | | | | plan to unveil the Jetta, a Golf hatchback |
| all the stops on its India venture. Next | | | | based on the A5 platform. The Jetta features |
| year, the automaker will be rolling out the | | | | trusted auto parts accessories that made the |
| Jetta sedan from Skoda's Aurangabad plant. | | | | German automaker renowned worldwide. The car |
| | | | will be flaunting better styling, trim, and |
| The VW Jetta will be assembled in the plant | | | | interiors. |
| using completely-knocked-down kits from | | | | |
| Puebla, Mexico. The automaker said that the | | | | According to the automaker, the name Jetta is |
| operation will continue until 2009 when it | | | | inspired by "jet stream" and has been in |
| plans to move to its own Rs plant in Pune. | | | | production for 27 years. The Jetta is likely |
| The 2,450-crore plant has an annual capacity | | | | to be launched both in the petrol and diesel |
| of 110,000 units. The company will invest | | | | versions and priced between Rs 7 lakh and Rs |
| approximately Rs 2,500 crore in this | | | | 9 lakh. About two lakh cars were sold in the |
| facility. | | | | midsize segment in India in the last |
| | | | financial year. The company is likely to opt |
| Andreas Prinz, the managing director of | | | | for a 1.6-litre engine as part of its petrol |
| Volkswagen India, told Business Standard that | | | | lineup, using the automaker's patented FSI |
| the mid-size car would be priced | | | | technology. |
| competitively and it will be aligned with the | | | | |
| likes of the Honda City. This places it in | | | | For diesel engines, VW is likely to borrow |
| the Rs 7 lakh to Rs 9 lakh bracket, which has | | | | the 1.9-litre TDI engine from Skoda, as found |
| models like the Hyundai Verna, the Maruti | | | | in its Octavia model in India, Business |
| Suzuki SX4 and the Ford Fiesta. The segment | | | | Standard revealed. The Euro III ready engine |
| recorded sales of 200,000 cars last fiscal. | | | | will allow Volkswagen to price the car |
| | | | competitively. The German automaker might |
| Prinz added that the company plans to price | | | | adopt different trim models with top-end |
| this car competitively for the Indian market. | | | | versions of petrol and diesel featuring |
| VW is going to challenge existing product | | | | anti-lock braking system and airbags as |
| lines in this segment including Hyundai | | | | standard. |
| Verna, the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and the Ford | | | | |
| Fiesta. | | | | Industry sources suggest that VW has recently |
| | | | implemented a new global sourcing plan that |
| The German automaker is pushing for rapid | | | | rewards suppliers who achieve lower price |
| development in India since it feels it was | | | | targets by making them part of new model |
| missing out on growth opportunities in the | | | | strategies. This might mean Indian suppliers |
| territory due to its focus on other markets | | | | for the Jetta can be a part of VW's global |
| especially China. VW has three dealerships in | | | | supply chain. |
| India and is now opening more countrywide. | | | | |
| | | | Additionally, VW has recently set up a sales |
| The VW Passat, the first Indian-assembled | | | | company called Volkswagen Group Sales India |
| car, will be launched on September 5 from the | | | | Private Limited in Mumbai to concentrate on |
| same Skoda facility. A VW spark plug ignites | | | | the Indian market. |
| even brighter as the automaker announces its | | | | |