The Volkswagen Polo Sedan is set to be locally-assembled in Malaysia in the near future. According to a report, Volkswagen India will begin manufacturing and packaging assembly kits for export from its Pune plant, with Indian content for the car – to be assembled by DRB-Hicom – being about 70%.
The automaker says that the export line will create 215 new jobs in the company’s parts and components unit as well as at suppliers. It added that while VW cars assembled in India currently feature 70% local content, the company is aiming to increase this percentage by building engines and gearboxes, if volumes support the move to do so.
Currently, the 1.6 litre MPI Polo Sedan is sold here as a fully-built imported vehicle from India – the introduction of the CKD programme for the car should translate into a cheaper price tag from the RM99,888 asked for the CBU unit now, but by how much remains to be seen. The move may be significant in driving sales volumes up for the car, which hasn’t quite set the market alight.
Volkswagen India also exports its fully-built cars to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and South Africa.
