Volkswagen’s Chakan facility in Pune has crossed a new milestone with one millionth car roll-out from its production line. The celebratory car was the India-spec Volkswagen Ameo in carbon steel colour. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune began operation on 31 March 2009, starting with the production of the first car, the Skoda Fabia.
The celebratory car, the Volkswagen Carbon Steel Ameo, was rolled in the presence of Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, the top management of Volkswagen Pune Plant and some of the oldest employees who have been part of the production department since a decade at the Pune Plant. Speaking on the occasion, Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director - Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “Volkswagen India’s production facility is a global benchmark in quality and technological advancement in manufacturing, and it has remained the backbone of our growth narrative in India. On behalf of the entire management, I would like to congratulate the team at Volkswagen India who have worked relentlessly on achieving this milestone today.”
Production for the Volkswagen Polo, Vento and Skoda Rapid in the Chakan facility began sometime by the end of 2010. The plant which was initially set up for catering to the Indian market also started exporting cars to various other markets beginning with South Africa in 2012. Mexico went on to become one of the most important destinations for the made in India cars and the Vento quickly became the highest selling Volkswagen in that market. Today, more than 400,000 cars manufactured from the Volkswagen Pune Plant have reached more than 50 different countries across four continents of the world including Asia, Africa, North America and South America.
The Volkswagen Group is further strengthening its commitment and hold in the local market through its regional project INDIA 2.0. The focus of this project is to develop more cars that are relevant to the requirements of the Indian market on a platform that has been localised. The Volkswagen Group is investing 1 billion Euros (INR 8,000 crore) in this project and has already set up Technology Centre at the Pune Plant to start its local development.
