Polo Sedan to challenge Vios in Thailand?

We know that VW have made its intention to control 10% (from its current less than 1%) of the Indian car market very clear. Part of this plan include a major expansion of its dealer network, to 200 outlets (from the current 40 outlets) over the next 2 or 3 years. The first product to sustain this push is the Indian made Polo. Indian market regulations states that to qualify as a "small car" which attracts a lower excise duty, cars must have engine sizes that are less than 1.2-litres and an exterior dimension of less than 4-meters. The Polo measures 3.97m and is available as a 3-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre petrol. A 1.2-litre diesel is also on the way, given that India has the largest diesel passenger car market in Asia Pacific.


The Polo is expected to be the core model for VW India, which is a car market dominated by compact hatchbacks, mainly those made by Maruti Suzuki, a brand which of course is now part of the greater VW family.

To drum up demand, a one-make race series featuring the Polo is also in the plan. The VW Polo Cup, is one of the many one-make junior feeder race series supported by VW in Germany, the other being the Lupo Cup. VW have even established a sub-division called Volkswagen India Motorsports. You can almost draw parallel to the one-make race series Toyota did with the Vios in Thailand. An indication that VW intends to make Polos as synonymous with India as Vios (and Altis) is with Thailand?


VW have also revealed that a Polo sedan will be introduced by 2011, also produced in India, with more 75% of the components to be sourced locally. The car is expected to be sold in developing markets, including Thailand. India and Thailand have both signed the Thailand-India Free Trade Agreement (TIFTA). allowing the Indian made Polo to be exported to Thailand (eventually). Things are still unclear for the rest of ASEAN markets though. This will not be the first Polo sedan, the first generation Polo was at one time available as a sedan, mainly produced in China but also exported to markets like Australia. The model however was discontinued in the second generation Polo.