VW wants to topple Toyota, join 'Top 5 Club' in India

John Chacko, president and MD of VW India, said the three main brands of the group — Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi — have been witnessing a healthy and steady growth in demand, making the group confident of surging past Toyota, which has been present in India since 1999, much before the German auto major. “I think we can do it and move to the number five position. That is my target for this year,” Chacko told TOI. The group expects demand for its cars to remain strong after overall sales grew 109% in 2011 at 1,11,623 units.

On its part, Toyota has also been growing rapidly in India and saw its sales go up 82% in 2011 at 1,36,150 units compared to 74,762 units in the previous year. Sandeep Singh, deputy MD (sales & marketing) at Toyota Kirloskar, refused to comment on VW’s statement, saying the Japanese company will move as per its own plans. “All the best to VW. We look at our numbers and our plan is to have at least 1,80,000 (in sales) in 2012.” Toyota has seen sales move up swiftly in the Indian market after the introduction of entry-sedan Etios and small car Liva, both of which also come with a diesel engine.

VW and Toyota have been at loggerheads globally too, competing for higher volumes, as the German maker races to become the world’s biggest carmaker by 2018, ahead of US giant GM. VW group has of late picked up pace in India, especially after the launch of Polo compact and Vento sedan. Skoda and Audi have also seen sales surge in 2011, despite the slowdown in industry sales.