VW to launch Beetle in India

SumitBahl · 24th July 2008, 10:26

German carmaker Volkswagen plans to drive in its iconic car 'Beetle' in India as it looks to strengthen presence in the country. "Beetle is an iconic brand and the profile of the customer the world over for this car is upwardly mobile and well travelled and those who wants to be different. We see a segment of those customers in India," Volkswagen Passenger Cars India managing director Makham Dhalivaal told PTI. He said Beetle could be used as a part of the brand building exercise that Voklswagen plans to undertake in India.

"It (Beetle) has a positive hallow effect on other brands," he added.

Asked by when the Beetle could be launched in India, Dhalivaal declined to give a definite timeframe but said: "It could be in the medium term." Beetle is now manufactured in Mexico for VW's worldwide supplies and could come to India through the completely built unit import route.

Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the newly launched sedan Jetta, Dhalivaal said the company expects order of about 1,200 units by the end of this year.— PTI

Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Business

They should have thought about launching Golf as well.

undead · 24th July 2008, 10:29

Fully import route ? It may be priced closer to Fiat 500 ?

SumitBahl · 24th July 2008, 10:38

Prices in US starts at $17,475 which is 731,209.56 INR.
Taking into account the import duties, it would be pitched somewhere close to Fiat 500.

hillram · 24th July 2008, 10:41

Good News..But im sure the Beetle will be placed between 12-15 Lac range and a 2 Door is not that fancying in India.
See how many new Mini Coopers are on the road?

S_budhiraj · 24th July 2008, 10:57

Great news~!

Can see lots of cute mini cars on the road.

At the Auto expo I hade a word with some senior guy of the group from Germany. We were chatting in German and about the price he said to me (Ungefehr Zwangig Teusend Euro) around 12 Lacs.

jayguar · 24th July 2008, 11:25

That is one great news. When launched will the new Beetle be a Fiat 500 competitor or would it be in a different segment?

nickatnite · 24th July 2008, 11:53

Good news indeed, in terms of the variety , but at what cost?. Too high a cost.

fx45 · 24th July 2008, 13:09

will find some good buyers.. but VW should launch it with a diesel engine only.

aaggoswami · 24th July 2008, 13:14

I am surprised. If this car was manufactured in India or brought in by CKD, SKD route then its fine. But if the car is here to come by CBU, then again this would make Fiat 500 run for cover. I hope they finally come up with some good proper common rail diesel for this.

I think that even though it comes through CBU, it can sell well as compared to Fiat 500.

vinaykiran79 · 24th July 2008, 13:37

Finally the iconic cars are to be seen in India. Waiting for a Ferrari 360 Modena in India.

GTO · 24th July 2008, 16:41

Quote:

"It (Beetle) has a positive hallow effect on other brands," he added.

Lots of Automotive CEO's are waking up to this fact. HM with the potential EVO launch, Fiat with its 500, Audi & the R8 and now VW. Only good news for those who can afford the tag, and will make for a pretty sight on our roads!

PAVAN KADAM · 24th July 2008, 16:45

That'll be a great thing if the VW bug enters india.

What price but. Its going to be very very steep, i feel it'll be priced at around 18 lacs. if lesser, i am game for it.

jassi · 24th July 2008, 23:58

Lets see when this gets launched and unlike the fiat 500 hopefully in a petrol variant in addition to diesel. The 150bhp engine seems nice as per the specs on US site

New Beetle - Complete Specs

.anshuman · 25th July 2008, 00:49

VW please give us some powerful engine this time,there wont be many takers for the car but VW can please the limited ones who intend to buy unlike fiat 500 with 1.3 multijet engine.

anilkalvani · 25th July 2008, 09:29

just hope they dont plonk the same laura engine into the beetle as they've done with the jetta with a few tweaks. else you'll have all three cars with 105bhp & similar ratio's. They need to give us the new CRDi & not the nearly redundant noisy PD engine.

24th July 2008, 10:26	#1
SumitBahl BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 976 Thanked: 230 Times View My Garage	VW to launch Beetle in India German carmaker Volkswagen plans to drive in its iconic car 'Beetle' in India as it looks to strengthen presence in the country. "Beetle is an iconic brand and the profile of the customer the world over for this car is upwardly mobile and well travelled and those who wants to be different. We see a segment of those customers in India," Volkswagen Passenger Cars India managing director Makham Dhalivaal told PTI. He said Beetle could be used as a part of the brand building exercise that Voklswagen plans to undertake in India. "It (Beetle) has a positive hallow effect on other brands," he added. Asked by when the Beetle could be launched in India, Dhalivaal declined to give a definite timeframe but said: "It could be in the medium term." Beetle is now manufactured in Mexico for VW's worldwide supplies and could come to India through the completely built unit import route. Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the newly launched sedan Jetta, Dhalivaal said the company expects order of about 1,200 units by the end of this year.— PTI Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Business They should have thought about launching Golf as well. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by SumitBahl : 24th July 2008 at 10:28.
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24th July 2008, 10:29	#2
undead Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bhavani - Komarapalayam Posts: 1,193 Thanked: 179 Times	Fully import route ? It may be priced closer to Fiat 500 ?
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24th July 2008, 10:38	#3
SumitBahl BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 976 Thanked: 230 Times View My Garage	Prices in US starts at $17,475 which is 731,209.56 INR. Taking into account the import duties, it would be pitched somewhere close to Fiat 500.
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24th July 2008, 10:41	#4
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	Good News..But im sure the Beetle will be placed between 12-15 Lac range and a 2 Door is not that fancying in India. See how many new Mini Coopers are on the road?
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24th July 2008, 10:57	#5
S_budhiraj BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 275 Thanked: Once	Great news~! Can see lots of cute mini cars on the road. At the Auto expo I hade a word with some senior guy of the group from Germany. We were chatting in German and about the price he said to me (Ungefehr Zwangig Teusend Euro) around 12 Lacs.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 11:25	#6
jayguar BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 300 Thanked: 218 Times	That is one great news. When launched will the new Beetle be a Fiat 500 competitor or would it be in a different segment?
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24th July 2008, 11:53	#7
nickatnite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NYC/MAA Posts: 1,430 Thanked: 603 Times	Good news indeed, in terms of the variety , but at what cost?. Too high a cost.
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24th July 2008, 13:09	#8
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	will find some good buyers.. but VW should launch it with a diesel engine only.
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24th July 2008, 13:14	#9
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	I am surprised. If this car was manufactured in India or brought in by CKD, SKD route then its fine. But if the car is here to come by CBU, then again this would make Fiat 500 run for cover. I hope they finally come up with some good proper common rail diesel for this. I think that even though it comes through CBU, it can sell well as compared to Fiat 500. Last edited by aaggoswami : 24th July 2008 at 13:25.
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24th July 2008, 13:37	#10
vinaykiran79 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 71 Thanked: 0 Times	True Globalization Finally the iconic cars are to be seen in India. Waiting for a Ferrari 360 Modena in India.
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24th July 2008, 16:45	#12
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	That'll be a great thing if the VW bug enters india. What price but. Its going to be very very steep, i feel it'll be priced at around 18 lacs. if lesser, i am game for it.
	() Thanks

24th July 2008, 23:58	#13
jassi BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 980 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	Lets see when this gets launched and unlike the fiat 500 hopefully in a petrol variant in addition to diesel. The 150bhp engine seems nice as per the specs on US site New Beetle - Complete Specs
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25th July 2008, 00:49	#14
.anshuman Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Good-Gaon Posts: 7,763 Thanked: 11,064 Times View My Garage	VW please give us some powerful engine this time,there wont be many takers for the car but VW can please the limited ones who intend to buy unlike fiat 500 with 1.3 multijet engine.
	() Thanks

25th July 2008, 09:29	#15
anilkalvani BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bandra West, Bombay Posts: 633 Thanked: 89 Times	just hope they dont plonk the same laura engine into the beetle as they've done with the jetta with a few tweaks. else you'll have all three cars with 105bhp & similar ratio's. They need to give us the new CRDi & not the nearly redundant noisy PD engine.
	() Thanks