The destined car, a made in India red Volkswagen Vento powered by a 1.6-litre MPI engine sets sail from Mumbai Port to Mexico on the Hoegh Asia vessel. Its seven-week journey was flagged off in the presence of Volkswagen India, Hoegh Autoliners AS, Mumbai Port Trust and Customs (Export), Mumbai personnel.
Volkswagen Vento was first exported to Mexico in late 2013, replacing Jetta Classico there. It now sits comfortably in a list of top three most sold cars in Mexico H1 2015. Vento volumes are contributing Volkswagen Mexico sales significantly. In late 2014, Polo exports began. Through last year, almost every second car made at Volkswagen Pune Plant was shipped Mexico, the single largest export market for Volkswagen India.
Volkswagen flags off the 1,00,000th car to Mexico (L to R): Mr. Tore Listad, Head of Region South Asia and Africa, Höegh Autoliners AS; Mr. Carsten Goransch, Head of Logistics, Volkswagen India Private Limited; Mr. Pradeep Phansekar, Traffic Manager, Mumbai Port Trust and Mr. Suvir Mishra, Commissioner of Customs (Export), Mumbai flagged off the 1,00,000th export car of Volkswagen India to MexicoRight now, Volkswagen India exports Polo and Vento (RHD and LHD) to at least 32 countries in Asia, Africa and North America. Export operations first began in 2011 with shipments to South Africa, and got a solid boost in the arm when Volkswagen Vento demand in Mexico began translating to real numbers.
Executive Director – Logistics, Volkswagen India Private Limited, Carsten Goransch says quality is ingrained deep in the global Volkswagen ethos. As expected, world class cars made in Pune are in high demand overseas. Pune Plant personnel are obviously thrilled at what has been achieved thus far in view of high acceptance and demand of Indian made Volkswagen Vento and Polo in Mexico.
He adds that Volkswagen India primary focus is on the domestic market. With export markets to cater to, Indian operations are running on an economically sustainable base. Export scope to other countries could also be increased soon enough.