Volkswagen, the largest automaker in Germany, stated on April 8 that it was pulling its Polo brand’s vehicles from the Indian market.
Since its first unit was made in India in Pune’s Chakan Plan in 2009, Polo’s run in the country lasted for more than ten years. The car garnered a lot of positive feedback after its formal debut at the Auto Expo the following year.
Volkswagen issued a statement saying, “After 12 years of never-ending acceleration, the time has come for Polo to press the brakes.”
For making the Polo India’s “most-loved hatchback,” the firm congratulated the engineers, authorized dealers, service team, and customers. The legacy of the brand will be passed on to its “SUVW and Sedan siblings,” according to Volkswagen.
With more than 2.5 lakh units sold since its inception in 2010, the Polo was one of Volkswagen’s best-selling models in India. The automobile currently costs about Rs 7.02 lakh ex-showroom in Delhi.
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Volkswagen India to Close?
Volkswagen’s announcement that it will no longer produce the Polo hatchback, which has been produced for ten years, sparked rumors that the company may be considering ending its operations in India. But according to reliable sources, Volkswagen has no intention of giving up on the Indian market this early in the launch of its wave of all-new vehicles.
Director of Volkswagen India Ashish Gupta addressed these worries in a direct conversation with ZigWheels, saying “We have the most recent and youthful portfolio at this time. Volkswagen is aiming for a 3% market share in India, therefore I believe that this portfolio will really help us grow our business over the next three to four years.
“The success of these two vehicles, the Taigun and Virtus, as well as the Tiguan, which is the foundation of our future ambitions, is crucial if we want to maintain a long-term presence in India, he added.
Western automakers frequently leave the Indian automotive industry, particularly those who have long-term active participation in the market but have found it difficult to establish a foothold. The most recent example was Ford, which closed its manufacturing facilities in India in 2021 due to years of losses and an outdated model lineup. Because its luxury models haven’t been able to loosen the purse strings of the majority of Indian vehicle purchasers, Volkswagen has frequently been regarded as a brand that errs perilously close to that edge. The VW Group recently announced its new strategy for the Indian market, where Skoda would lead the way with a flurry of fresh and highly localized offers, in an effort to calm concerns about a quick exit.
It’s vital to keep in mind that the Polo hatchback is also quite old, despite being one of Volkswagen’s most consistently well-liked cars in India. Here, sales of the Mk5 Polo began in 2010. Volkswagen released the sixth-gen model for a number of markets in 2017, and in 2021 it received a facelift. As a result, the model that has only recently been discontinued needed a significant upgrade.
What caused VW to quit India?
Due to sluggish domestic volumes, declining exports, and a dearth of new products for the home market, it has been having trouble. It appears to be modeling its strategy after that of General Motors, which left India in 2017.
Volkswagen left India when?
Volkswagen will no longer be manufacturing the Polo, which has been sold in India for almost 12 years. Since 2010, Volkswagen has been producing the high-end hatchback in Chakan, Maharashtra, making it the company’s first locally produced vehicle.
The insider claims that Polo and Vento will discontinue production in Q2 of 2022 since Vento sales would end in May and Polo reservations in June. The VW Polo has utilized a variety of engines over the course of its existence and has undergone a number of minor changes intended to keep it current.
Despite the possibility that the Polo’s days in India are numbered for the time being, it seems likely that a replacement built on the MQB-A0-IN platform is already in the works. Volkswagen is reportedly considering bringing the sixth-generation Polo to India, however it might require significant changes to meet the country’s sub-4-meter tax regulations.
Volkswagen Polo: Will it leave India?
After 12 years of “endless acceleration,” India’s beloved Volkswagen Polo is changing.
Volkswagen India, a car manufacturer, came up with the sweetest and most heartfelt method to notify that Polo is leaving India.
One of the nation’s most popular hatchbacks, the Polo, announced its resignation in a touching letter that was shared on social media.
The 12-year-old brand recalled the memorable occasions, like the first time it was produced at Pune’s Chakan facility in 2009 and being showered with cheers at the 2010 Auto Expo.
The note stated, “During my memorable time here, I have traveled to places, loved people, and been welcomed to excursions I had never imagined before.”
Volks, until next time! – When PoloPolo shared something with us, we were compelled to share it with everyone. https://t.co/tlhAhvL7V9
What vehicle will India’s Polo be replaced by?
Volkswagen India is about to stop producing the Polo hatchback and Vento sedan after 12 years on the Indian market. The Virtus sedan will shortly take the place of the aging Vento. There hasn’t been any word yet about a Polo replacement, though.
The only Volkswagen cars that still employ the PQ platform are the Polo and Vento. In contrast to VW’s India-specific vehicles, which use a heavily localized version of the MQB platform known as MQB-A0-IN, the most recent generation of VW automobiles offered in international markets are based on the MQB platforms. Sales of the Polo and Vento have decreased as a result of the outdated platform and a lack of contemporary technology features. Keeping the models on the market is therefore no longer profitable.
In India, is Volkswagen a success?
Volkswagen, a German automaker, has seen a sharp increase in vehicle sales in India. Volkswagen India sold twice as many automobiles in the first half of 2022 as in the prior year. The popularity of Volkswagen’s recently released Virtus, Tiguan, and Taigun has also been linked to the business’s performance.
Volkswagen sold only 10,843 vehicles in India during the same period last year; this year, the business has sold 21,588 vehicles there. According to the company’s brand director, the recently released vehicles are to blame for the increase in sales.
“Since their debut, Taigun and Virtus, two of our newest competitors, have had an incredible reception from customers. We have doubled our sales in the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021 thanks to the increasing demand, “the brand director for Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, Ashish Gupta.
Why has Polo been canceled in India?
Finally, Volkswagen has decided to end production of the adored and admired Polo hatchback in India, and the automaker has no intentions to introduce the following version of the vehicle here. With this, the car’s remarkable 12-year run in India has come to an end.
Volkswagen continued to construct the hatchback against orders even though word of its termination had been spreading since February. At the beginning of April, the corporation even officially released the last Legend Edition and listed the vehicle online.
The last round of deliveries for the hatchback were finished in May, according to our dealer sources, who have now confirmed that they have ceased receiving new orders for the vehicle. Volkswagen has also not sent a single unit since last month, which supports this even more.
It is clear from this that the German manufacturer has officially ended the hatchback. Polo nevertheless managed to sell 1086 units in March and 728 in April even though it was nearing the end. This is despite the fact that the main design is more than ten years old.
The Polo established benchmarks for performance, handling, and build quality in the nation. It was constructed on Volkswagen’s PQ25 platform, which has received widespread recognition abroad. It was the first vehicle in India to pass the Global NCAP crash tests with a four-star rating.
Since its launch in 2010, Polo has seen strong sales success in India, selling between 2500 and 3000 copies per month.
However, after 2015, customers started favoring features over handling and performance, which is when Polo’s appeal started to wane. Volkswagen was discouraged from delivering the newest model to India due to the sub-4 meter taxation regime.
Polo’s future growth was hampered by the German brand’s Dieselgate fine and India’s stricter rules. By receiving a new set of 1-liter engines, the hatchback managed to pass the BS6 regulations despite tremendous effort. However, mounting losses on the vehicle meant finally cutting the cord.
The 1.2-liter TSI engine, which was first mated to a 7-speed DSG, and the 1-liter TSI engine, which was later mated to a 6-speed torque converter, were the best features of the Polo. Both of the powertrains provided incredible performance, earning the hatchback the moniker “hot hatch.”
The Virtus sedan, which the millennial generation longs for and which will be delivered to us tomorrow, is both contemporary and packed with current technology, but the Polo will always be known as a hatchback that provided wonderful driving enjoyment.
Polo 2022: Will it visit India?
The Volkswagen Polo 2022 is a hatchback with five seats. In November 2022, the Volkswagen Polo 2022 is anticipated to make its debut in India. The Santro, GO Plus, and Tigor will compete with the Volkswagen Polo in 2022. Prices should start at 8.00 Lakh.
Why are automakers emigrating from India?
This decline was caused by: Demonetization. a sudden increase in the cost of vehicles as a result of increases in costs and fees at numerous stages, including registration, etc. GST (around 28 percent GST is levied on automobiles).
Can we purchase Polo still?
The Polo hatchback will shortly be phased out by Volkswagen in India. Volkswagen India has unveiled a limited-edition model of the vehicle named the Legend Edition as a farewell to the vehicle. The cost of the VW Polo Legend Edition is Rs. 10.25 lakh. Volkswagen will formally stop producing the Vento and the Polo once the Polo Legend Edition is gone, and you won’t be able to purchase a new Polo in India after that.
Volkswagen has not yet developed a Polo replacement for the Indian market. The sub-4 metre rule for India’s excise duty benefits is not met by the 6th generation Polo sold outside of India. Therefore, it won’t reach our coasts. However, we can anticipate that VW India will use completely built units (CBU) to introduce the new Polo GTI in a small number of units.
Is a Volkswagen Polo a good investment?
The thought of purchasing a used Volkswagen Polo may cross the minds of many prospective purchasers, but doing so can be a wise move. In terms of whether the Polo is a wise purchase for 2021, the answer is obviously yes!
The Volkswagen Polo is a promising car that will make you feel proud, and hatchbacks are still a popular purchase on the used car market. Any Volkswagen Polo variation you choose will provide a whole new level of robust and durable appearance, together with an incredible engine spectrum, elegant and spacious interiors, and a rugged bodyline. Remember to add the Volkswagen Polo’s 4-star safety ratings to the list of advantages. It makes sense to buy a used VW Polo to appease your inner passionate driver.
Honda Motors: Does it leave India?
Some of Honda Cars India’s models, notably the fourth-generation Honda City, may shortly stop being produced. The Jazz and WR-V are the other Honda models that will be dropped from Honda India’s lineup. Even though the business hasn’t made an official statement about it, the incident has been reported by a number of outlets in the auto industry.
After October 2022, Honda India will reportedly stop producing the Jazz, according to sources. After March 2023, Honda WR-V manufacture will come to an end. After December 2022, the Honda City, one of the company’s most well-known vehicles, will no longer be produced. The company will continue to provide the Honda City of the fifth generation, which was just released on the Indian market.
The manufacturer will only have three models to offer in the India market, namely the City (5th generation), Amaze, and Hybrid City, if the reports about the discontinuation of the City (4th Gen), Jazz, and WR-V prove to be accurate. All three models are sedans by coincidence. This implies that the corporation will exclusively sell sedans to customers. It is anticipated that the departure of Honda’s three flagship vehicle models (City 4th Gen, Jazz, and WR-V) will leave a gap in the Honda India lineup.
According to numerous online sources, Honda is anticipated to launch a midsize SUV in the Indian market. The launch has also been verified by Honda. In India, the mid-sized SUV is anticipated to debut in 2023. In addition to diesel and gasoline versions, there is a chance that the forthcoming SUV may also be available in a hybrid configuration.
It is anticipated that Honda City’s underpinnings will be used in the company’s upcoming compact SUV. We can anticipate a 1.5-liter gasoline and diesel engine, which is already available in the City. But if Honda does decide to release a hybrid version of the SUV, it will use the Honda City hybrid’s hybrid drivetrain.