VW’s new plant shapes up

The first Škoda Fabia cars will roll out of the Volkswagen India plant in Chakan in early May. While Škoda India currently produces up to 800 Fabias a month at the VW Group plant in Aurangabad, this number will be scaled down progressively as the numbers pick up in Chakan. VW India has targeted a late December date for start of production of the latest-generation Polo hatchback. This car will be similar in every respect to the European Polo except for a higher ground clearance, air-conditioning offered as standard, and a more powerful horn, said VW Group brand manager Kurt Rippholz. It will première at Auto Expo 2010 and go into series production in March 2010. The saloon, based on the Polo platform, will follow in the second half of 2010. With a local supplier base of close to 400, VW will start with a 50 percent localisation level for both, the Fabia and the Polo. This will go up to “70-80 percent or even higher,” Rippholz said. While VW had originally planned to import its engines from Europe, its plans may change to local assembly. “If the demand increases, we will even localise our engines here,” he said, adding that the company had not yet finalised its engine programme.

The Up! model family, which is being developed as a small van, four-door hatch, and two-door coupé, will also come to India as VW sees high volumes for a small city car of this type in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and even Pune, he added.