![]() | #166 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() Fellow moderator Ajmat and myself were discussing the other day about how VW is not seeing the potential of the Jetta. The Jetta consistently sells more than the Octavia month on month. While it could be due to Octavia having shortage of kits, it still goes to show people are considering the Jetta over the Skoda just for the VW brand over Skoda. The Jetta has lower kit and is a generation older but still outsells the Skoda. Moreover unlike Skoda, you don't get the Jetta in the 1.8TSI with the DSG and neither do VW offer a lower TDI comfortline trim with DSG. Skoda offers 2.0TDI DSG in Elegance as well as Ambition variants. Incase of VW, you have to shell out close to 24lakhs for the highline diesel DSG. In this segment buyers prefer automatic over MT any day and this can be seen by the higher DSG ownership reports on the forum itself. Now imagine if VW were to have the following variants with the Jetta. 1. 1.4 TSI with 140bhp and 7 speed DQ200 DSG. For buyers who don't need diesel and have less running. This can easily be around the 17-18L price point and really give the Elantra and Altis a run for it's money. 2. Comfortline TDI DSG. This is the most practical option. It will be around 21 lakhs on road and perfect for the chauffeur driven folks who get the leatherette seats but don't need the additional gadgets for the driver. 3. Ofcourse the 1.8TSI with 7 speed DSG would be a dream but I don't think this combination is available in RHD internationally. The above variants would really really widen the appeal of an already brilliant car. Hopw VW sees this and are planning for it in the upcoming facelift. |
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![]() | #167 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai
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![]() In the same context, the Rapid was the first to offer a 6-speed A/T mated to the petrol unit of the top two variants while the 1.6L Vento A/T continued to be sold only in the Highline trim. It was much later that VW introduced an A/T option in the Comfortline variant too with the introduction of the TSi. For the Jetta too, the Comfortline variant with the 2.0L diesel seems to be ideal for a person who is 90% chauffeur driven and adding the option of DSG would definitely boost sales. There are so many people who actually were in love with the Jetta but looked elsewhere as they felt stretching their budget for the top end Highline variant wasn't worth it. I hope that with the refreshed Jetta they offer the DSG with more than 1 variant. Although, I'm not too sure if VW would consider adding a DSG to the 1.4L Jetta as majority sales would still be for the diesel in that segment. No? But yes, it would definitely widen the Jetta's appeal. Wonder if it would be worth the added investment though. | |
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![]() | #168 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() The only point I still think is: They always want to play the premium card in all markets. A sub 15L market even with a premium tag would need much more support in after sales as compared to luxury product. (Not that I discriminating between the segments. Just stating my thoughts). From that aspect, over the counter spares and local spare manufacturing would add a great boost to them. |
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![]() | #169 | |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bangalore
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![]() ![]() I think they should also replace the 1.6 NA Petrol in the Vento Manual with the 1.2 TSI. At least will make the petrol manual Vento a strong contender in the petrol sedan space. | |
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![]() | #170 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() Volkswagen Polo SUV to compete with Ford Ecosport. To debut end of 2015 or early 2016. This also heats up the CUV sement since Maruti's YBA too is speculated to be ready around the same time frame. ( 2016 Auto Expo debut ?) Since the Polo is the mainstay in VW India's portfolio it does make sense considering the cost and the economics of production. ![]() Earlier reported Taigun , but a new sub 4m CUV is being contemplated for the Indian market. The Taigun based on the UP platform at this point would be expensive since VW has no plans of bring that platform to India. VW has also shelved using the MQB platform based derivative of the CUV due to the high cost involved. ![]() No guesses on the engine as the 1.5 TDI will be the mainstay while VW would decide on TSI's based on their long term vision( 1.2/1.4?) of bringing the Polo GT TSI's to India. http://motoroctane.com/upcoming/7625...-ford-ecosport Last edited by volkman10 : 9th January 2015 at 09:01. |
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![]() | #171 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() | ![]() Kamal Basu has been appointed Head of Marketing and PR by Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Link to Team-BHP News Article ![]() |
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![]() | #172 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Mr.Basu is taking up the position when Volkswagen sales are lacking behind the competitors and Volkswagen product portfolio for India seems to be empty. The present products seems to be dated and fresh line up is order of the day. The company is at cross road and be looking at Mr.Basu for turnaround. He should be familiar with the group operations, which is an added advantage. But critics will be skeptical as his innings at Skoda had not produced any change for better. Interesting days ahead for Volkswagen group. |
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![]() | #173 |
BHPian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Pune
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| ![]() Its very difficult to call this a new appointment. Looks an obvious internal reshuffle especially when he hasn't done any wonders at SKODA. I see VW as a great company but they don't have any products to sell. Their bread and butter of Polo/Vento is also getting very old. There is nothing much to market |
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![]() | #174 |
BHPian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Bangalore
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| ![]() That's very strange. Couldn't understand Mr. Basu's appointment in Skoda in the first place - coming from an advertising background to heading the PR & Marketing for the Skoda brand is quite a long way off - they are completely different ballgames altogether. And by Mr. Basu's own admission, the only touchpoints that he had with automobiles was (prior to joining Skoda) 1. He was involved in the launch of Rapid from the advertising angle 2. He is passionate about cars (apparently he'd spent more on cars than on real estate, hope he hadn't owned a lemon Skoda ![]() What's the net result of his stint at Skoda? From a ground level perspective, there was perhaps more spend on the adverts (could see the Rapid's adverts almost every other week in print); but, did it translate into hard sales? Not really, going by the numbers. I guess, the VAG group will need something more than advert blitzkrieg to arrest their falling numbers - good, saleable products for Indian market. Cheers! TurboTurtle PS - I will be the first one to agree that the Polo TSI and TDI are amongst the best in class hatches; having driven the TDI, can vouch for that. However, numbers speak otherwise. Hence, the emphasis on 'saleable' products. |
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![]() | #175 |
BHPian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hyderabad
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| ![]() VW thinks they have a "marketing" problem, and at worst a "branding" problems at hand which can be addressed by some focused "spin". I disagree. I think the problems are more around franchise operations management, customer care and service experience, and organisational culture (the condescending salespeople I experienced at dealerships is just the external manifestation of that, IMO). A wrong medicine. I don't think this will cure, but I will be happy to be proven wrong. |
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![]() | #176 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune-Bangalore
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| ![]() My opinion (as a current VW owner since 2011). If I think of an upgrade from my Highline TDI Vento (of which I have had a good experience so far not only with the car but with also After Sales Service)...VW is not a contender , they have nothing new to offer and no announcements about new products also. I think they do need an aggressive product line and cant go on much further than a TDI / TSI keeping the same shell. |
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![]() | #177 | ||
BHPian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bangalore
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The VW India story is mirrored across Renault and Skoda. It is combination of short-sightedness, arrogance, lack of adaptation to local markets and stubbornness. Ford too made many mistakes but they did learn from them and had a good run with the Figo. Sadly, with the Ecosport, they seem to be regressing. As in any organisation, the buck stops at the top. Without knowing the background on the situation, I would speculate that maybe the leadership does not see the big picture. They have specialists for their respective departments, but the head must be the sort of leader who can see the big picture and take decisive actions. | ||
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![]() | #178 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai
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| ![]() In August 2014 we had reported that Volkswagen invested 30 Million Euro (INR 240 crore) in setting up a new engine assembly plant which would also include a full-fledged engine testing facility at Chakan, near Pune. The hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra - Mr. Devendra Fadnavis today inaugurated this facility. The new engine assembly plant will function over a total floor space of 3,450 sq.m within the premises of the existing plant of Volkswagen India in Chakan. The engine testing facility includes a cold test station, a hot test bench and an engine dynamometer besides an engine test laboratory. The company will begin assembly of the 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine, which has been specifically designed and developed for the Indian market. Currently, the Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid are being manufactured at the Chakan plant. Last edited by S2!!! : 27th January 2015 at 18:27. |
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![]() | #179 | |
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![]() | #180 | |
BHPian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Pune
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