VW Beetle imported CBU in India in 2009

Volkswagen is planning to bring its iconic Beetle to India – the car maker would import the new interpretation of the original Beetle in a few months from now.

Volkswagen, which is expected to start importing the Beetles by 2009, will bring in the car in completely built unit (CBU) form. This could in turn mean that the Beetle would be highly expensive as CBU imports attract over 100 per cent duty.

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Volkswagen feels that it would be able to tap the niche market for its Beetle and it is expected to position it in the lifestyle segment. It is believed that the company is currently in the process of finalizing imports after realizing that there is a small yet definite market for the Beetle in India. What we hear is that VW plans to launch the 1.9-litre diesel variant in India. Don’t believe it much – could be anything. At those high prices, it really doesn’t matter much.

Volkswagen has already created a presence in India through entities such as VW India, SkodaAuto India and Audi India. A 30,000-cars manufacturing capacity at Aurangabad has been one of the successful ventures for the company in India. Adding to this achievement, the car maker is now in the process of setting up a 1.1-lakh unit facility at Chakan in Pune. This facility is likely to go on stream next year. Skoda models such as Superb, Laura, Octavia and Fabia; Audi A6 and A4; and Volkswagen Jetta and Passat are rolled out currently from the assembly line at Aurangabad. It is expected that the Chakan plant, when it goes on stream, would produce the Fabia hatchback.

The car maker is said to be lining up major expansion in India considering the pace at which the car market in the country is currently growing.. The company has earmarked Rs 3,600-crore for the country and will be launching two new cars based on its global Polo platform. This is expected to happen by 2010 and is expected to roll out a hatchback and a sedan on this platform.