Volkswagen Produces 1.45 Lakh Cars In 2016, Highest Ever Yearly In India

The company has been exporting both the Polo and Vento for export markets like the Middle East, Argentina, South Africa and even Mexico. In the 2016 calendar year, the plant produced over 36,700 Polos, 15,400 Ameo sub-compact sedans, 83,300 Vento sedans and 9,600 units of the Rapid.

Volkswagen's Pune Plant has so far attracted an investment of over 825 million Euros (Rs. 5720 crore) and it has achieved a localisation level of approximately 82 per cent (without engines and transmissions).

While demonetisation has played a spoilsport for Volkswagen, the company has managed to show strong growth in sales in December 2016. The domestic production for the year 2016 was recorded at over 60,500 units from the Pune Plant which is almost a 12 per cent rise from last year. The production of export units which includes Volkswagen Polo and Vento stood at over 84,500 cars, which is 22 per cent over last year. Additionally, the Volkswagen Pune Plant also crossed the milestone of manufacturing over 2,50,000 cars for the export market.

Volkswagen is tight-lipped about exporting the Ameo, but we know that the company is certainly looking at existing and new markets to launch the car in. The company is actually on full throttle to first cater to the demand of the domestic market so, we'll probably see the Ameo heading out of India later in 2017.

Dr. Andreas Lauermann, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited said, "This is the fourth year in a row that the Volkswagen Pune Plant has recorded a growth in its production volume. Despite a challenging year, there was a surge in demand for our cars this year. The main contributor for the increased production was the high demand from our Indian customers who have appreciated the made-for-India and made-in-India Ameo. Along with that, the Vento whose success in India and around the world, has been noteworthy contributor too."