Mexican Media Brands
VW Plans 15% Hike in Production in India
Volkswagen AG says it will add a third shift at its assembly plant in Pune, India, and increase output 15% this year.
Share
Volkswagen AG says it will add a third shift at its assembly plant in Pune, India, and increase output 15% this year.
The factory, which has capacity to build 130,000 cars per year on two shifts, assembled 123,500 vehicles last year. The new shift is being added as the facility launches the Ameo, a sub-4-meter sedan developed specifically for the Indian market.
The new model was unveiled at the Delhi auto show in February and will go on sale in India in June. The car, a variant of the VW Polo, will be offered with a 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 74 hp or updated 1.5-liter 4-cylinder diesel that makes 89 hp. Both engines will be available with a 5-speed manual; the diesel also will offer a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Expected to debut with a starting price of about 550,000 rupees ($8,300), the Ameo will compete in India's crowded small sedan segment, which accounts for about four out of five new-car sales in India.
The Pune factory currently builds the Polo mini-hatch and Vento small sedan and its Skoda brand Rapid sedan.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know
What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots.
-
Jeeps Modified for Moab
On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.
-
On Automotive: An All Electric Edition
A look at electric vehicle-related developments, from new products to recycling old batteries.
