Volkswagen India has commenced production of the Passat in India, which will be launched in the final quarter of 2017. VW sold the sixth and seventh generation models in India before it was dropped from their lineup in December 2013. The eighth generation VW Passat will reintroduce the nameplate after a gap of almost four years.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said,
We are happy to bring back one of our most successful premium luxury products to the Indian market, the Volkswagen Passat. With the introduction of the Passat we extend our portfolio, encompassing a wide variety of products from a hatchback to a luxury sedan. The Passat exudes style, timeless design, exemplary performance, and is symbolic of a luxurious lifestyle. We are proud to introduce this car with an iconic heritage to the Indian market.”
The VW Passat will be the first MQB based sedan for Volkswagen in India. However, the modular platform is not new to the Indian market as it underpins the VW Tiguan and products from VW-owned companies such as the Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, and Audi A3.
VW will launch the Passat with the EA288 2.0 L TDI diesel engine option only. This 177 PS motor will be offered paired to a 6-speed DSG. The company has not announced any other engine options for the Passat as of now.
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The VW Passat production in India takes place at their Aurangabad facility. The prices of the sedan are expected to hover under the INR 30 lakh mark. Rivals of the VW Passat will include the Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord.
