VW Beetle to debut in India by middle of 2009

Get set for the VW Beetle. For the first time, the Volkswagen Beetle provided a sneak peek at the upcoming VW Beetle at the Mumbai International Motors Show 2009. Update: VW Beetle launch by Dec 2009

The small car, fondly called the Bug, proved to me one of the main attraction at the recent Mumbai International Motor Show.

Photo: VW Beetle for India

The automotive major displayed the VW Beetle for the first time in India, but added that the car would be available in India on sale only by mid-2009. The company plans to import the model into the country as a CBU – which means prices are definitely not going to be affordable for anyone.

The VW Beetle is the original People’s Car. Not in India, though. Here, that honour has always gone to the Maruti 800 and now the Alto, and in the future, the Tata Nano would be the usurper of the title. Here it would be one of those exclusive cars that rich but genuine automobile enthusiasts, and their obnoxious kids drive around in.

The cheapest VW Beetle to be sold in European market is for around 17,000 Euros, said company officials. And, with the car set to come in through the import route, the car would be more expensive for sure. The Indian road regulations would make the car even more costlier, it is believed.The VW Beetle, unfortunately, would be priced closer to Rs 20 lakhs – you could buy 15 Nanos with that. Not that you would want to.

Likely to be available in 1.9 litre TDI diesel variant by April-May this year, the VW Beetle would come equipped with rain sensors and cruise control, acoustic rear parking sensors and a variety of safety features. The company has said that the safety measures would include ABS, traction control, anti-skid system and front and side airbags. The company plans to offer only one diesel model for the Indian market. The Beetle for India will have a conventional front engine, that is good for a maximum speed of 180 km per hour.

Other companies such as Fiat and BMW too are lining up small luxury cars such as the Cinquecento and Mini for the Indian market, but Beetle is expected to be the first to arrive.

Volkswagen is said to have worked out strategies for Beetle’s entry into India. What now remains is the pricing aspect and the and market strategy.

But what market strategy? The Honda Accord-Toyota Camry- Honda CR-V-Audi-Merc market is not going to go for the VW Beetle for sure. Most likely, the car would end up as a second, or even third car for those who can afford the high price tag. There are a lot of Beetle fans in India, but they are in love with the original Bug, not the reworked modern version. Anyway those auto fanatics are not going to plonk down the moolah when the Beetle launches in India. What the VW Beetle would do is to be the flagship model, and get more attention to the more pedestrian but practical Jetta and Passat in India. Well, we guess it would be nice to see a few Beetles around. It is one of the cutest cars around to look at.