Volkswagen India appoints Berndt Buchmann as Head of Aftersales

Mr. Berndt Buchmann has been appointed as the Director of Group Service, Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited, replacing Dietmar Hildebrandt, with effect from May 1, 2014. An Austrian national with a Diploma in Master of Business Administration, Mr Buchmann has over 20 years of experience in the auto industry.

As the head of after sales services, Mr Buchmann will be responsible for overlooking parts operations and warehousing, technical service and warranty, vehicle logistics as well as training of sales and after sales personnel. He will report to Mr. Thierry Lespiaucq, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group Sales India.

Mr Buchmann had started his career with Audi AG in Ingolstadt, Germany, holding various management positions in the company through a span of 10 years in the company’s different markets. He then switched to the France’s PSA Group, holding different positions in areas of manufacturing, wholesale and retail for the past 10 years. This isn’t Mr Buchmann’s first stint in India, as he was posted in the country before for running a completely knocked down (CKD) project for Audi AG in India.

Being a global brand, the after sales of Volkswagen cars in India is a bit on the expensive side. The Volkswagen Group sells cars in India under five marquees- Skoda, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Volkswagen. Through these brands, Volkswagen sells a variety of cars, right from hatchbacks like Volkswagen Polo to supercars like Lamborghini Aventador. As such, we can say that Mr Buchmann has been bequeathed with a big responsibility in a country which is steadily warming up to the German Group’s cars.