Volkswagen to not build a Renault Kwid rival anytime soon - Report

27/02/2017 - 18:34 | ,   | Aravind Jayachandran

The company will instead focus on being the most 'affordable premium brand' in India.

In an interview with The Economic Times, the Director of Passengers Cars Division, Volkswagen India, Mr Michael Mayer, has stated that a Renault Kwid rival is not in VW India's short term plans.

VW Tiguan at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show
For 2017, VW India has lined up the VW Tiguan and VW Passat for launch.

Mayer was quoted saying:

I don't think we will target that in short term. In the long term you can never exclude that but I think there are many more priority tasks for us to develop cars that fit to the aspirations of the aspiring middle class in India rather than those ones catering to the rock bottom value, conscious first time car buyer, who looks for best value for his Rs 3 lakh.

Instead, Volkswagen is working on being the most 'affordable premium brand' in India, which is possible by rolling out newer products in the premium segments at competitive prices. For 2017, VW has lined up the VW Tiguan and VW Passat for launch, which may not sell in as many volumes as its smaller siblings, but helps further refine VW's premium image in India.

2016 VW Up! (facelift) front quarter at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show
Reports suggest that VW is working with Tata on a small car, although it could be slightly bigger than the Renault Kwid. (Up! image used for representation).

Also Read: 2018 VW Vento (2018 VW Polo Sedan) – Rendering

There are also reports that VW is working with Tata Motors on platform collaboration. It's unclear when cars from this collaboration will reach showrooms for sale, but they are not expected before the end of the decade.

[Source: Economic Times]

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