Fully India-made Volkswagen Ameo to be showcased at 'Make in India Week'

Volkswagen India will exhibit its brand new and fully made in India sedan Ameo during its participation at the ‘Make in India Week’ to be organised in Mumbai from February 13 to 18 at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The VW pavilion at the event will also showcase the company’s Dual Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programme that is aimed at skill development of the future workforce in India, according to a press release.

On a recovery mission after the infamous emission scandal, the German automaker is intent on reiterating its long-term plans in India at the ‘Make in India Week.’  According to the release, the company from Wolfsburg has so far invested north of Rs 6000 crore in setting up a full manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune including an engine assembling line for its 1.5-litre diesel mill. It is also the same plant from where VW's first completely made-in-India car Ameo has been manufactured.

The company says that this car has been keeping in mind the compact sedan segment in India and the demands of the Indian customer from such cars. Under the hood, the VW Ameo comes with the same petrol and diesel engine options that already do duty in the Polo. In the petrol form it pumps out 74 horses of power and 110Nm of torque from a 1.2-litre unit, whereas the diesel variant is powered by a 1.5-litre mill that makes 90PS of power and 230Nm of torque. Both these engines come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Apart from the Ameo, VW will also showcase the Vento that is manufactured in India and exported across the globe to as many as 35 different countries. The Apprenticeship programme hosted by Volkswagen India Academy will also be part of the company’s pavilion in Mumbai. The scheme is aimed at developing a skilled workforce for the future that will be ready to take on industrial challenges of tomorrow, said the release.

Meanwhile, VW’s efforts to localise parts and components in India have also been gathering steam. Further accentuating the same, president and managing director of Volkswagen India Private Ltd., Dr Andreas Lauermann, said, “India offers a great potential in terms of manufacturing capabilities and that is why we support the ‘Make in India.’ This initiative will help in making India one of the largest automobile markets in the world.”