Volkswagen India shipped its 1,00,000th car built for Mexico today. The state-of-the-art production facility of Volkswagen India in Chakan, Pune has achieved this milestone in less than two years after starting export to the North American country. This success highlights the high acceptance and demand of the Indian Volkswagen Vento and Polo in Mexico.
Today, a red Volkswagen Vento, powered with a 1.6-litre MPI engine was shipped from the Mumbai Port to Mexico on the vessel Höegh Asia. The 1,00,000th export car to Mexico embarked upon its seven-week journey to the North American country after being flagged off by Mr. Carsten Goransch Head of Logistics, Volkswagen India Private Limited; Mr. Carsten Steinicke, Logistics, Volkswagen India Private Limited; Mr. Tore Listad, Head of Region South Asia and Africa, Höegh Autoliners AS; Mr. Karolath Gopinath, Head of Area Indian Sub-Continent, Höegh Autoliners AS; Mr. Yashodhan Wanage, Deputy Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust and Mr. Suvir Mishra, Commissioner of Customs (Export), Mumbai.
Mr. Carsten Goransch commented on this occasion, “Highest Quality is in the DNA of Volkswagen around the world. We, in Pune, have been building world class cars which have resulted in high demand for our products in the global market. The 1,00,000th car that we have shipped to Mexico today is a testimony to this fact. It makes us all at the Pune Plant extremely proud of what we have achieved so far.”
Export to Mexico: A Success Story for Volkswagen India
Volkswagen India started the export to Mexico with the Volkswagen Vento less than two years ago. The Vento, built at the Pune Plant, replaced the outgoing Jetta Classico in the Mexican market. After being introduced in the late-2013, the ‘Made in India Vento’ immediately became a popular car in this North American market with its timeless design, robust build quality, highest safety and comfort as well as adequate space – all of which ensured an impressive driving experience.
The ‘Made-in-India Vento’ climbed the sales charts in Mexico rapidly and is already in the top three most sold cars in Mexico in the first half of 2015. It is also the highest sold Volkswagen in Mexico at the moment. Complementing the success of Vento since late-2014 is the Polo, which is also being built at the Volkswagen Pune Plant. Nearly every second car produced in the year 2014 at the Volkswagen Pune Plant was shipped to this single largest export market for Volkswagen India.
Worldwide high demand for cars built at Volkswagen Pune Plant
‘German Engineering, Made in India’ is in great demand. Currently Volkswagen India exports the Volkswagen Polo and Vento in right-hand as well as left-hand drive versions to over 32 countries in Asia, Africa and North America. Starting with the first single export market, South Africa in 2011, Volkswagen India has been able to ramp-up the export business to form a second strong leg of its business operations. The big breakthrough for exports from the Volkswagen Pune Plant came when the Mexican market demanded Volkswagen Vento cars built in India to replace the outgoing Jetta Classico with the Vento.
Commenting on the export success, Mr. Carsten Goransch said, “The primary focus of the company has been on the domestic market in India. However, with the decision to enter export markets, we have put our operations here in India on a broader and economically sustainable base.” He further added, “A Volkswagen built anywhere in the world meets the same quality standards. This is evident by the way the Volkswagen Vento and Polo have been accepted worldwide. With the success of our highest quality cars in a key market like Mexico, we can further increase our scope of export to other countries in the near future.”
Volkswagen Pune Plant Chronicles
March 2009: Volkswagen Pune Plant inaugurated
December 2009: Start of Polo production
August 2010: Start of Vento production
December 2010: Start of production for export to South Africa
July 2011: 1,00,000th car rolled out of Pune Plant
July 2012: Start of production of left-hand drive cars
October 2013: Start of export to Mexico
April 2014: 50,000th export car rolled out of Volkswagen Pune Plant
December 2014: With 1,11,444 units, the highest number of cars produced at
Volkswagen Pune Plant within one year
19 May 2015: 5,00,000th car rolled out of Pune Plant
20 August 2015: 1,00,000th car exported to Mexico from Pune Plant
About Volkswagen Group India
The Volkswagen Group is represented by five passenger car brands in India: Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Group has been present in India for the last 14 years and began its India journey with the entry of the ŠKODA brand in 2001. The Audi brand and Volkswagen brand entered India in 2007, while Porsche brand and Lamborghini brand followed in 2012. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity in the market. Volkswagen Group India has over 25 models in India, over 240 dealerships and is operating two plants – Pune and Aurangabad. The Pune Plant has a manufacturing capacity of 130,000 cars per year (in current two-shift system) and is currently manufacturing Volkswagen Polo and Vento and ŠKODA Rapid. The Aurangabad Plant assembles various premium and luxury models of Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen sold in India and has an annual capacity of approximately 89,000. Volkswagen Group India is a part of Volkswagen AG, which is globally represented by 12 brands – Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scania, SEAT, ŠKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge), MAN and Volkswagen Passenger Cars.