European carmaker Volkswagen will launch face-lifts of its models, Jetta and Passat, in India next year. The two models have been in the market since 2007-08. The company will also roll out the next generation Touareg, its sports utility vehicle, in 2011. Meanwhile, it is also mulling the launch of its compact sports utility vehicle Tiguan in India next year, a senior company official said.
?Jetta and Passat have become old as they were out in 2007-08 and we are looking at revitalising the models and bringing in face-lifts next year,? said Neeraj Garg, member of board and director (passenger cars), Volkswagen Group Sales India.
He added that the two models have achieved what was expected with the
Jetta having an 8% market share and the Passat, a 6% market share in their respective segments.
On plans for localising the two models, Garg said, ?As of now, we do not have any plans to localise the Jetta or the Passat and will continue to assemble them in India. We plan to localise the Polo and Vento.? Market analysts do not expect any pricing action. It is noteworthy that VW?s Jetta and Passat sales volumes were cannibalised by their sister brands, the Skoda?s Laura and Superb respectively. In a bid to limit sales cannibalisation of models, the company repositioned Skoda and launched the new generation Laura and Superb at a lower price.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen said that it is ramping up production for its Polo, a hatchback and Vento, a sedan, at its Chakan plant near Pune, citing higher demand. ?We do not want our customers to keep waiting for the models for too long and have therefore, opted for a second shift, ? Garg said. During January to November 2010, Volkswagen?s Polo and Vento wholesale volumes stood at 17,039 and 5,391 units, respectively.
Total volumes for the company during the same period stood at 26,855 units as against 2,600 units in the same period last year.