"We already have five models in India. We plan to launch more luxury car models in the Indian market, including the small car A3 at an appropriate time," Audi India's managing director Benoit Tiers told reporters after launching the new Audi A4 sedan in Mumbai on Thursday.
Audi India commenced its business activities in 2007 and presently has five models -- Audi A8, Audi Q7, Audi A6, Audi A4 and Audi TT.
"We are expecting to sell 1,000 of our cars in the Indian market in 2008, compared to 350 cars last year on the back of growing demand for luxury cars in the market. The new Audi A4 will be a crucial product to help us achieve this goal," Tiers said.
As a part of its strategy to increase sales, the company will have 12 dealers in place by the year-end, from the present seven.
The company is opening five exclusive showrooms by the end of the current year in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata and Ludhiana. At present, it has showrooms in Delhi, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh.
The company plans to increase its dealer-network to 18 by next year.
The new Audi A4 model sold through these dealers is based on an entirely new technical concept which offers considerable advantages over its predecessor and combines powerfully dynamic design with outstanding handling characteristics.
The Audi A4 is offering a choice of two powerful engines. The diesel engine version priced at Rs 29-lakh and petrol version will be offered at Rs 36-lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai, Tiers said.
There is a growing market for premium luxury cars in India with Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi making good inroads into this market segment.
"With infrastructure improving and ambition levels of the younger generation being what they are, Audi-the last of the three German premium car manufacturers to set up assembling operations in India-I believe that sales of luxury cars will increase dramatically," he said.
Audi plans to import the A4 car initially and by end of the year build it locally. The company is also ready to start assembling Audi A4 at its Aurangabad assembly plant, he said.
"We are setting up a second line for the CKD production for A4, which will be ready by the year-end. We are producing A6 model and will gradually extend it to A4 model," Tiers said.
Asked on setting up of a manufacturing unit, Tiers said, "we see India on a long-term basis. We will increase our capacity at the Aurangabad unit depending on demand."
The slowdown in the US economy has not impacted the sale of luxury cars. "In fact, the segment has grown by more than 200 per cent and this year it is expected to double," Audi India's vice-president-marketing, Martin Birkner, said.
Image: Audi India managing director Benoit Tiers unviels new Audi A4 Sedan | Photograph: Arun Patil
Text: PTI