Volkswagen eyes 10pc market share

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The newly-introduced Volkswagen (VW) is confident about capturing 10 per cent share of the Nepali auto market. “There is no reason why Volkswagen will not be able to cover 10 per cent of the Nepali market gradually, as it did in the global market,” said Armin Keller, VW’s executive director, Sales, India and Far-East.

As per the brand’s plan of expansion into smaller auto markets of Asia, VW opened its first Showroom in Nepal along with a service centre, under the dealership of Pooja International of Vishal Group of Companies.

“To tap into neighbouring countries’ auto markets, VW has started a manufacturing plant in India which will help in our expansion,” he said. The Volkswagen Group also includes the car marques Audi, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Automobili Lamborghini, SEAT, Škoda Auto and heavy goods vehicle manufacturer Scania.

This German company is famous for its earlier Beetle and Van models. However, modern VW is all high-tech and has a diverse range of cars – SUVs, people movers, sedans, vans among others. “We want to inculcate our brand as producer of all kinds and models of cars not only the two famous ones, and if we consider the models of the company’s the sister concerns that produce heavy trucks to racing cars, VW supplies all the possible forms of vehicles,” he said. VW brand alone covers 11 per cent of the global auto market. However, Volkswagen’s market share in Europe, especially in the home country of Germany exceeds 20 per cent. Likewise, VW is already well established in other continents, especially China in Asia and Brazil in South America.

“However, VW has still a long way to go to get established in Asian auto market, we still have to invest a lot for that.” He is confident that establishment of car manufacturing plant in India will help the brand in covering the South Asia.

“The three pillars that support Volkswagen are innovation, value and sustainability, among these three, it is on sustainability that we need to focus,” he said discussing the challenges faced by VW. “Our main concern is churning out cars that are environment friendly. Then again, this is not only the challenge for our single brand but that of whole auto industry,” he added. “Regarding the biggest challenge in Nepal being the infrastructure, we have to design and produce cars suitable for the roads and climatic condition of Nepal,” he said.

“We have already sold 60 units of cars even before the showroom inauguration so we are confident that VW will be well received in Nepal,” said Vishal Agarwal of Vishal Group. VW has introduced four new models in Nepal. The revamped version of the famous Beetle – New Beetle, Jetta, a family sedan, Passat saloon car and Tiguan compact SUV. The prices of the

vehicles start from Rs 3.9 million.