The journey began when Skoda entered the Indian market in 2001 followed by Audi and Volkswagen entering India in 2007 and Porsche and Lamborghini in 2012. It has been an 18 year journey for the Volkswagen Group in India. The Volkswagen Group in India is represented by five passenger car brand’s Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, SKODA and Volkswagen. Each brand operates as an independent entity in the Indian market.
Volkswagen Group India has about 30 models and 240 dealerships in India. It is operating two plants, one in Pune and another one in Aurangabad. The Pune plant currently manufactures Volkswagen Polo, Vento, Ameo and Skoda Rapid and has a manufacturing capacity of 2,00,000 cars per year. The Aurangabad plant assembles various luxury models of Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen sold in India and has an annual capacity of 89,000 cars.
On 19th of April 2019, Volkswagen’s Pune plant achieved a milestone as it rolled out the one-millionth car from its assembly line. The made for India, Volkswagen Carbon Steel Ameo, a celebratory car, rolled off the production line.
The first car to roll out of the Pune plant was a Skoda Fabia on 31st March 2009 and followed by three more models Volkswagen Polo, Vento, and Skoda Rapid by the end of 2010. The Pune plant was set up to cater to the Indian market, but later, it also started exporting cars to various other markets beginning with South Africa in 2012. The Indian made Volkswagen Vento became the highest selling car in the Mexican market. The Pune plant has served more than 50 countries around the world with more than 4,00,000 cars pushed out
Through the 1 millionth car, the Ameo, Volkswagen group has shown it’s immense commitment towards the Indian market over the decade long operation in India. Volkswagen Group India is further strengthening its commitment through its regional project INDIA 2.0, which focuses on localised platforms to develop more cars relevant to the Indian market. The Volkswagen group is investing INR 8,000 crore (1 Billion Euros) in this project and already has a technology centre set up in Pune Plant.
Volkswagen Group India is a part of Volkswagen AG, represented by 12 brands – Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scania, SEAT, SKODA, Volkswagen commercial vehicles, MAN, and Volkswagen passenger cars.