What Volkswagen's Brand Director Said About Polo's India Comeback...
The Volkswagen Polo is one of those rare enthusiast cars which, despite being out of sale, has increased in value over time. This hot hatchback has a cult-like following, and enthusiasts are begging Volkswagen to bring back this iconic vehicle. Now, recently addressing this request, Volkswagen India's brand director has given a big statement, but we would like to mention that if you're a Polo fanatic, then you'll definitely not like what he said.
Volkswagen Polo will not be coming back
While speaking to a media outlet, Volkswagen India's Brand Director, Ashish Gupta, stated that there is a huge demand for the Polo in the country. However, despite this, the company is not planning to bring back the model to India. The primary reason cited by Gupta is that the current-generation Polo, which is sold in international markets, is based on a new platform.
He added that India has a unique sub-4m law, which reduces the tax if the vehicle is under 4 meters. It would not be cost-efficient for the brand to alter the dimensions of the international Polo and bring it to the country. For this reason, the company is not bringing back the Polo to India.
More reasons why it does not make sense to bring back the Polo
In addition to the new-generation Polo not being cost-effective for the brand, there are a few other reasons why it would not make a lot of sense for Volkswagen to bring back the Polo to India. One of the main reasons is that hatchbacks have become a dying breed in India. Over the last few years, the sales of hatchbacks in all budgets and segments have been declining.
Due to this, at this point, developing a brand-new hatchback will not be a wise decision for the brand. In addition to this, Volkswagen is currently increasing its focus on the increasingly popular SUV segments. In India, most people now prefer buying SUVs even if they have a small budget.
Lastly, Volkswagen builds all of the right-hand-drive Polos in South Africa, and as India and South Africa do not have a free trade policy, importing the Polo will not be feasible, as the import duties will far exceed the cost of the vehicle, making it extremely expensive.
Volkswagen could bring the Polo as an SUV
During the interview, Gupta highlighted that the Polo could not be brought back as a hatchback to India. The company is currently evaluating its return as an SUV. Recently, at the Rio De Janeiro Samba School Parade, the company revealed its brand-new SUV called the Tera. This SUV is based on the MQB A0 platform.
For those who may not be aware, this is the same platform on which the Volkswagen Taigun, Virtus, Skoda Kodiaq, Slavia, and Kushaq are based. This model is slated to make its debut in India by the end of this year or early next year. On the outside, it boasts a modern, bold, and aggressive design. As for the interior, it gets all the bells and whistles of a modern Volkswagen.
It is believed that the company will be launching this model with the 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, which makes 118 bhp and 178 Nm of torque. Additionally, the company could also offer the same with the 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine as well, which makes 150 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 6-speed torque converter automatic, and a DSG gearbox.