German major Volkswagen will focus on the commercial vehicles segment in the country. The company is said to be exploring options to launch its commercial vehicles in India.

Industry sources said that the auto giant is now conducting a feasibility study aimed at unveiling commercial vehicles in the country’s car mart. The study has been kicked off already and is expected to be completed by the end of the current year.Volkswagen is expected to announce a decision to this effect soon.

“We, as a big automobile company, constantly keep evaluating possibilities. Emerging markets, including India, are key to our expansion programme not only in cars but also in commercial vehicles,” Volkswagen Group Chairman Martin Winterkorn told PTI at the Paris Auto Show here.

There are also rumours that Volkswagen is in talks with local companies about a possible alliance to build CVs in India - but officially, VW has denied it.

The German auto major, meanwhile, is also said to be lining up plans to make its presence felt in the Indian passenger car market all on its own with its small car based on the VW Polo platform. This means that the car maker is not planning to enter into any alliance with any other automotive company to launch its passenger vehicle. The company is also said to mulling over going it alone in the Indian commercial vehicles market too.

The company is planning to build its first car in India at its Chakan plant near Pune - the first car is likely to be rolled out by the middle of next year, and will possibly be a Skoda Fabia. Meanwhile, Volkswagen is said to be on schedule to launch its new small car, specifically developed for the Indian market on the Polo platform.

Setting up and strentgening its dealership network so that they are up and ready by the time the car is launched, Volkswagen India has lined up eight dealerships, which will be expanded in a big way in the next two years. The company plans to be present in almost all the big cities and Tier II towns so that the cars that are rolled out of its Pune facility get a maximum reach.