By: Partha Charan
, Updated on: 15 Apr 2025, 18:22 pm

  • The Brand Director of Volkswagen India Sides Light on the Brand’s Positioning, Trade Tarifs and VW’s Ev Strategy
Volkswagen India’s Brand Director Speaks about the manufacturer’s strategy in an interview.

Volkswagen India Brand Director Ashish Gupta has stated Unequivocally that Volkswagen India intends to focus on making the brand a premium car manufacturer in the country. In a sit down interview at the launch of the tiguan r-line, gupta highlighted the brand’s strategy, going forward. Our strategy has always been to make the Volkswagen Brand More Premium Because We do not have a cost advantage. We have a brand advantage. Advantage? “

The tiguan r-line, launched at an introductory price of 48.9 Lakh, is presently the most premium vehicle in the brand’s line-up, important as a cbu in limited numbers. It marks the first new product launch for the brand with mainstays control With the c-segment premium sedan space shrinking, vw remains the segment leader, with the virtus being the only sedan to witness growth at a time when it is rival Popular Honda City and the Hyundai Verna, Seeing a Steep Decline in Sales in 2024. Last year, The Ciaz Saw Its Sales Decline to 11,364 Units from 19,344 in the Previous Year. The Honda City’s Sales Fell from 13,122 to 7,117 units in the same time period.

Volkswagen tiguan r line
The Volkswagen tiguan r line has been launched in the country at a starting price of 48.90 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Introductory).

“I think, as a cult following, sedan is still the quintessential car for India” Says gupta, alluding to the aspirational value that sedans continue to hold in the face of Consumption. “It’s just that suvs have offered bigger growth space for manufacturers. But there is a clear space available in the market. More POWETRAINS, and a Manual Option has allowed the brand to secure a 30% market share in the segment.

Gupta also attests to the rising demand for more Premium offerings like the tiguan r-line “five years ago the sales of these cars were limited to big cities. But I think with the development Indian See a lot of aspiration in smaller towns as well. And now their aspiration meets their capability to buy “.

On the ongoing trade war

Talking about the Ongoing Trade War Between the Us and China, Gupta Said That, Thanks to the Localization of the Supply Chain for the Production of Locally Produced Cars, VW India Remains Relatively UNAFECTED “I don’t see any major impact coming in terms of the business. Are a globa organization.

On Volkswagen India’s Ev Plans

When asked about the rumors surrounding byd opening-up a plant in India and the further lowering of duties for tesla, gupta said “I think if the market is opening-up, Everybody looks aT the same Opportunities which are equalbody. IF you have a competitive advantage in that business, then you should get into it. “

“Volkswagen’s global portfolio of electric cars is available, we are one of the players who have been removed alcrease our electric penetration globally, butry into Indian Depends Oon What Sort of Regulatory Framework We Settle on Gupta Emphasses however, that vw’s Ev strategy isn’t suolely continent upon lowering of tarifs for cbu imports Localization implications.

Speaking about the road ahead, gupta stated that vw India’s focus will not be ev-textric. “Even by the best estimates, the Indian Ev Market will be Around 20% of the overal market by 2030. If you have to be a manufacturer of any significance you have to straddle both worlds – ice and evv”.

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First Published Date: 15 Apr 2025, 18:22 pm IST