volkswagen india exports 100,000th vento to mexico - press release
TRANSCRIPT
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Volkswagen India ships 1,00,000th
car to Mexico;
‘Made in India Vento’ drives the successful export story
Pune/Mumbai, August 20, 2015: 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 Executive Director – 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.
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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
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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.
Volkswagen Group India Communications Contact: Hermann Prax / Adhish Alawani Phone: +91-8554997356 / +91-7875557435 E-Mail: [email protected] / [email protected] 6-Degrees PR
Contact: Naina Shetty / Nanditha Harnath
Phone: +91 9819703379/ +91 9619855092
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]