Well, it seems not only Nissan has the idea of drawing a line in the sand with regards to market demarcation through separate branding, with the re-emergence of Datsun, replete with reinvented logo, into its fold – Volkswagen is said to be planning a low-cost car brand for emerging markets as well.
According to reports, Wolfsburg is looking at opening up the cards in the lower end of the price scale, aimed primarily at the Chinese and Indian markets, but surely to also include many upcoming economies once it starts chugging along, one senses.
VW’s head of research and development, Ulrich Hackenburg, said that in India, the company already builds the Vento and a local Polo variant, which goes for around 7,000 euros, but plans are afoot to come up with a more attractively priced offering in China, which will be the size of a Seat Toledo. No decision had yet been made whether such a car is to be manufactured with a Chinese partner.
The car will sell for about 5,000 euros, he said. He added that the trick would be to find the right amount of content to omit from the car to price it affordably. “Here you really have to closely look at what can be done away with, but those cars would not be sold under the name Volkswagen, more as their own brand,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.
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urm…proton? maybe…
proton is not under volkswagen group.
Yes Proton … first build low costs but quality cars then can move to something else. It takes time to build up the brand name and people’s trust again.
if there is a will, there is a way. Please no more shortcuts.
Low cost but pls keep the good quality of the original VW ! old Jetta is expensive than the new one but the old one is using the good soft plastic material but the new one is using the cheap hard plastic :( VW’s just wanna sell more cars now but is too over ! actually some ppl don’t mind to pay a little bit for it so if they cut cost and making cheap quality car then those customers will run away !
Proton…
maybe the VW up! … redefined n rework.
They said brand, not model.
The recurring Polo owners nightmare is about to start again! heh heh
Hmm…..Proton…..
If Malaysians can tolerate low grade cars for so long, why not ask the Chinese and Indians as well? hahahaha…
In all seriousness, lets support Proton by supporting VW. Proton should become the Skoda of Asia. No brand visibility, but a heck of a good build quality car.
Well Proton is in the S-WRC and Skoda is in WRC, both are enjoying the similar brand exposure in motorsport
What’s yr point?
The point is everywhere. Do homework
proton become the skoda of asia?
unless proton is acquired by volkswagen group.
If sell in Malaysia, I will be very happy..
You ‘know what? Before the arrival and popularity of japanese car (in the mid or early 70’s) The road of Malaysia was flooded with VW Beetle and VW bus. At that time VW is budget car, just like todays Perodua.
No other username ke?
how about MotorAsia (as opposed to AirAsia)?
Suzuki Alto, sold for around 8K euro (RM32.5K), in Malaysia selling price RM54K.
So this VW expected euro 5000, in Malaysia will be around RM40K. Fair?
But VW is already a cheap brand in Germany. Can they still go any lower?
(I am prepared for all the dislikes that are coming in :D)
How cheap is VW in Germany? Do you mind elaborate more?
Lighten up. It’s just a joke.
Volkswagen literally means people’s car. This image should project it as a cheap and affordable brand for the masses. To offer an alternative cheaper branding means that VW is no longer making cars affordable to the ordinary people.
try google… once i’ve read that VW is cheaper at Greece than Germany.
No one buy cars anymore in Greece. They’ve gone bankrupt.
If we are not careful, Malaysia will join Greece really soon.
PERFECT CAR FOR CHEAPSKATE COUNTRY FILLED WITH BALL-LESS , LOW SELF ESTEEMED, ROBBED AND BULLIED FOR DECADES PEOPLE.
GO PEOPLE, GO DRIVE THE SHIT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU.
Angry troll is angry.
Proton as new entry level brand?
last time thy had Skoda and Seat to do jus that , bt both those sub brands are moving upmarket slowly so the need for an alternative rise…!
Volkswagen planning a low-cost car brand? Isn’t it called Protongkat already?
OK change a bit the VW name to VT-VolksTongkat to suit local Bolehland market…VT…the people’s tongkat…
Rebadge the Amarok truck but put some old tractor engine as new stupid Protongkat Arena Schmuck truck….
volkswagen means “peasants/peoples car” which already sounds cheap. so what they gonna call their cheaper brand? “slakvewagen” (slaves car)?
Eurowagen, looking at the state of the EU economies.
they can learn from p1 nad p2 how to make a kosong car.
Kereta kosong but sold as premium car. hehehe
I guess it will a new name. But of course, branding is important. Nissan had it easy because they can rely on a classic brand they already own, Datsun. What brand that VW currently own? I don’t think Skoda will be it.
Proton is not relevant here at all. Unless it will be an opportunity for Proton to use the underutilized factory in Tanjung Malim to assemble them even if there are not for the local market.
VW has to come up with a new brand and that won’t be easy. Perhaps, VW should buy a dead brand and resuscitate it.
Why shall they buy a brand?
From the four rings of ‘Auto Union’ currently only Audi is in use?
They still own the DKW, Wanderer & Horch brands? And the NSU brand too?
Good point. I’m aware of Auto Union other brands but to me they’re all rather classics and not suitable for low cost.
Perhaps they can take over Australian’s Holden? :)
It won’t come to M’sia. No matter how cheap they make it, the final price to the consumer is still determined by the Gov’t. And that mean it will be set higher than P1 & P2 cars, which are by itself already by world standard very high.
i think P1 can be its low cost brand : )
maybe branding as Volks-Oto “VO”
Funny to think of it, back then when it first started, Volkswagen WAS the low cost car brand.