Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, has lined up series of launches in 2011 to capture 25 per cent of India’s luxury car market. According to the company’s senior representative, it is also planning to float a finance arm, to fuel the growth.
Speaking to media after unveiling new Audi R8, Michael Perschke, head-Audi India said: “We will launch 5-6 new models including A7 and A6, which are mainly for volume, in 2011.”
The A7 model will be launched in the first half of the year 2011 and A6 will be launched in the fourth quarter of the year. The new models will be assembled at the company’s facility in Aurangabad which has a capacity to assemble 4,500-5,000 units in a year.
“We have recorded an impressive growth, in sales, of 81 per cent in India in the year 2010, exceeding the annual sales target, yet again,” he added.
The company has sold around 3,003 cars in India, last year, compared to 1,658 cars in 2009. For the present year, it has set a target of 4,500 cars. Last year Audi’s market share in India was 20 per cent and this year it has set a target to capture 24-25 per cent, in the luxury segment.
In October last year, BMW another luxury car manufacturer floated BMW Financial Services, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the BMW Group. The group has said it will invest Rs230 crore in the new arm.
Perschke said, “We will continue to expand and strengthen our existing network across the country.” Presently the company has 13 dealers across the country and planning to add few more in cities including Surat, Ludhiana, Nagpur and Indore.
“Apart from top 10 cities, we want to focus on niche cities and will continue to focus on brand building,” he said. While declining to share any investments pertained to India, the brand is investing heavily in its future, Audi AG will invest around €11.6 billion between 2011 and 2015, primarily in people, new products and technologies as well as in upgrading its sites.
About 80 per cent of all investment, over €9.5 billion will go into developing new products and technologies of the future such as electric and hybrid drive systems.
Meanwhile, the company today announced the launch of Audi R8 5.2 FSI for India, which is positioned in the super sports car segment. The car, a zero to 100 km per hour spring in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 316 kmôhr. The vehicle is priced at Rs1,35,00,000 (ex showroom Chennai).
