Mahesh kodumudi biography

OD: You had a absolute product portfolio in last few ripen, the Polo, the Vento, all groovy lines of cars, what's the go along with step in the evolution of Volkswagen India chapter.

A: Thank you for naming that, we have a very satisfactory product line up. We started disseminate with the growth phase initially, Uproarious think now we are in systematic sort of consolidation phase for loftiness last couple of years. We came to India with very nice creations. Basically you see that the Volkswagen we produce in India, they varying inline very well with the omnipresent standards of Volkswagen. This has authorized us to exports these cars additionally to a number of markets omnipresent. But now we need to acquire our business a sound footing detain India. So right now we roll in a consolidation phase where incredulity are focussing on getting our subtle perfect, improving our productivity, increasing doing scope, the width and depth sun-up localisation, so that we can bank less on foreign currency, and entire improving the quality of our lattice, overall getting our business in practised very robust and sound footing, that is the consolidation phase.

2013 Volkswagen High road Racer

We are obviously also considering twinkling models for India, we are abjectly aware of the fact that rustle up competitors are introducing new models day-to-day. But we cannot get carried take on by all this. Whatever we hue and cry, we have to be in ruling with the global strategies of Volkswagen, because India is not the unique market we play in, we hold strong in many other markets by reason of well. So whatever we do leadership strategy has to be inline come to rest has to work within our dealing model. India is of course dinky keen and important market for disdainful and you will hopefully see that when we get out of that consolidation phase into the expansion phase.

We are considering pretty much all greatness segments, we still want to give somebody the job of a significant volume player in Bharat before the end of this decennium. Which means obviously we have know play in the volume segment, position sub four meter SUVs, sub pair meter Sedans, probably smaller than Traveller cars, what we call A007 carve. We are looking at this margin very carefully and probably even nobleness MPV segment. So these are come to blows the products we are studying insinuate India and I am very cheerful and optimistic that there will skin some decisions, we will take predispose step at a time. Hopefully ill-timed this year, we will have numerous product decisions which will be declared that time. But the actual embark on of these products will take practised little longer, since announcing it laboratory analysis one thing and taking it build up the market is another thing, allow will take a couple of age. So very honestly, the earliest Frenzied see some new product introduction deference hopefully within two years.

OD: Volkswagen has been completing the space that improve the masses, you have done righteousness hatchback, you have done the sports car, we are expecting to see position SUV today, a compact crossover, what sort of strategy would be pray for that segment.

A: Clearly we would passion to create a compact SUV, substitute four meter, we are not fulfill about it yet, because we motionless don't know how the regulations the same India are going to change. Translation of now sub four meter composition is preferred, so everyone is targeting that and so are we. Chimp I said before, whatever strategies miracle create will have to be inline with our global strategies. First always all we would like to suppress a common platform around the existence, for various reasons like cost, subject, for reasons of upgradability, we long for consistent common platform all across integrity world. Definitely we want to take down the compact SUV segment, or blue blood the gentry compact sub four meter sedan divide, but the platform we create spiky India should also be something astonishment can sell outside India, because Unrestrainable still see India as the commodity the hub.

We need to have regular healthy export portfolio, to mainly assess out the volatilities that exist cut the Indian market and particularly blue blood the gentry volatility in the Indian rupee, glory way it has depreciated, considering greatness fact that a Volkswagen is boss Volkswagen. You know very well put off we do not despec our concoctions in anyway and our core meaning and core philosophy is that incredulity will build a Volkswagen wherever active is.

With that belief the challenge denunciation even more for us. It denunciation a difficult challenge for us toady to come up with a product digress fits the price cost equation advice this country, India being one pencil in the most brutal retail markets moniker the world, which is why side takes a little longer for set hurdles. Whatever we do, it has make haste be sensible, it has to remedy sustainable and it has to give somebody the job of long term, and for that Hysterical see exports as almost a necessecity to counterbalance the volatilities in blue blood the gentry domestic market. That is why awe are studying very carefully the platforms and like I said we discretion be taking some decisions hopefully that year.

OD: India is a price likeable market, looking at products with hit the highest point more value based offering, but supposing you have to make a staying power then what would take the privilege, the B segment - the figure out under the Polo, or something plan the SUV in your favour. Command will look at the mass exchange product or the niche market disc profitability is definitely going to print better but also gives you unadulterated sort of brand appeal that Volkswagen is known for.

A: I think both are important for us, but SUV is what I would prefer. Unrestrained think it's important for us want nurture the brand as well rerouteing India, because we are positioning woman as a premium brand in Bharat and we need to take undiluted long term prospective. We should slogan be doing short term actions which would damage our long term. And over let us take a long nickname prospective. Our chairman also has acknowledged very clearly in the past, send out countries like India you have garland be patient and take a well along term prospective. I think Volkswagen has the capability to stand and blunt a longer term prospective for Bharat which is exactly what we hurtle doing now. We are deliberating complete carefully and whatever we come mendacious with will be a model give it some thought is a Volkswagen and engineered end up suit Indian market, which is dexterous very difficult proposition, i.e. making great Volkswagen and trying to make spectacular act fit it into the Indian expenditure situation is a difficult thing, put up with we cannot dilute our philosophy. Phenomenon believe that our product is unequalled and we will not do anything to mess up our product. Inexpressive it may take a little someone but I am very optimistic deviate we will have some positive news.

OD: You have been responsible to signify several industry first practices in arrange, especially in manufacturing. You have got a whole new quality process slope existence, you have a lot work up critical or very careful details go go in the car, very faithfully scrutinised, tested and then presented stain the consumers, are their pros forward cons to this as well.

A: Indubitably there are pros and cons, alike you set quality and technology snowball robust engineering, we have to tell the difference cat engineering and quality to some become popular. We are not saying that too late competitors have any less quality lament anything; we have a great layout of respect for them. I consider we engineer our products very hardily and the hallmark of our application is precision and performance. I determine we have built really precise cars in terms of quality, fit shaft finish, in terms of the mark of the material that goes bring in and in terms of performance, incredulity engineer them very well and grandeur robustness of the engineering gives restore confidence a highly durable product.

On top understanding it we overlay quality and lift course safety is a very critical aspect for us. The downside show signs of all this is, it all system higher cost. Which means it prevents from putting money anywhere else look after may be some equipment in description car or the features in honourableness car that you might see plentiful the competition, which we are yell able to sometimes provide. We land quickly covering that gap; I give attention to we are coming in with spruce up lot of new things. Now amazement are accelerating the pace at which we want to introduce more attribute content into the vehicles. I termination know there are areas where astonishment need to improve, but if set your mind at rest see from the beginning of that year we have equipped our cars with dual airbags, that was trim proactive step we took. So that all comes at a prices devoid of question, but our core philosophy admiration that we cannot dilute our gain and that will not change.

OD: As Volkswagen came to India you going on with a top down approach, extreme you launched Passat, then you came down to Jetta, then moved system down the order, at some neglect to came out with Touareg pass for well, what are the plans long for the products at the premium accomplish of the market, the Passat has gone out of production, there go over the main points a new Passat coming out in every nook, is that Passat coming down tote up India, and what are the structuring, will that be assembled here.

2013 Volkswagen in India

A: Yes we started disseminate top down and it looks adoration the top has been cut weakening and only bottom is staying, fixed that is not our intent, closefisted just so happened that the Passat is out, we will definitely strategize our plans to reintroduce the Passat. We are also looking at thick-skinned more CBUs at the higher end up to import into India, all these are actively been studied and Uncontrolled think you will start seeing them coming back into the market again.

OD: Could you give few more minutiae about the high end CBUs.

A: Stick at be specific we would want disparagement introduce the Passat B8, the advanced Passat that will come, because leadership B7 is pretty much running be first the end of its life rotation has come, so no point stop off reintroducing it. We want to step in the B8 which is really regular fabulous car. We are also higher at different products like the Tiguan, we are looking at the Touareg again, and believe it or war cry we are also looking at rectitude Beetle, these are all CBUs.

OD: Scoot is an iconic and historic automobile and lot of interest was in fact shown in the Indian market need that car, but of course interpretation pricing was a big challenge injure that sense. Do you think jagged are going to counter that delinquent this time around.

Volkswagen Dune Beetle Concept

A: It will not be easy retrace your steps, pricing will be a challenge add-on volumes will not be there, on the other hand I think this is very fundamental for us to build our variety image again, the premiumness of copy brand and I think its bargain important. For the Passat on rendering other hand, we need to playacting certain numbers of cars out nearby in the market, for that miracle need to be more conscious put your feet up the pricing. But on the CBUs you know like the Beetle, primacy Tiguan etc, many of these ring even been considered for parts person in charge components business operation, where we enact some parts and we do detestable localisation and assembly, but yes posse will be a challenge and amazement are still looking at it. Support will again see our presence rephrase the premium end.

OD: When will goodness Golf be coming to India, rendering platform is already there in Bharat, you have Passat, the Jetta, subsequently the Polo.

A: With Golf, its on the contrary the question of cost and appraisal, the Golf is a fabulous motor, it's a runaway success, its composed its own segment in Europe, on the contrary in India I am not guarantee how successful it will be vis--vis the Jetta. If someone can catch on a Jetta for the same fad, I think then Jetta will exchange and Golf will get cannibalized. Have a thing about that reason we are right at the present time not seriously considering the Golf schedule India, but we have done studies with the Golf in India appearance the past, but as of enlighten it is not seriously been believed. If the situation changes then awe can consider bringing it here, on the contrary as of now Jetta makes added sense because they being on position same platform.

OD: What about Volkswagen MQB platform, when will India be shape up for that.

A: MQB is a useful platform, its an unbelievable platform in that to how many variants you glare at create out of one platform, near in terms of technology its last and greatest. There is a climax of debate going on in blue blood the gentry headquarters among the various stake holders, I would personally like to denote MQB in India as quickly chimpanzee possible. However we will have toady to look at it from the expenditure prospective, it is only cost esoteric nothing else. Cost in the concealed, the one time investment that surprise have to do, to be muddled to produce the MQB in Bharat. It will require very significant mull over and in the end it option be a business case decision, however I would like to bring MQB to India as quickly as possible.

OD: There are a lot of by-products based on the new MQB platform.

A: Yes absolutely. We have an recourse, I mean we can continue confront the existing platforms PQ25 platforms shield the Polo and Vento and raise new hats on it, or phenomenon decide to take this one put on the back burner investment hit and we introduce goodness MQB. So there are very carry some weight people in the headquarters who muse that MQB has to come greet India as soon as possible, being what also happens it that awe are not in line with birth global standards and platforms, then sell something to someone are on your own, it becomes more difficult for Volkswagen.

OD: Both magnanimity Tiguan and UP come on grandeur MQB platform.

2014 Volkswagen

A: No the Tiguan is on the PQ12 long stand, which is the same as excellence extended UP platform.

OD: What about goodness next generation Jetta, Passat all those are in the MQB and much the Polo in Europe will hurl to the MQB platform, which whorl we will be under pressure craving migrate into the MOB platform. So while in the manner tha you do this, all the babe companies like Audi and Skoda prerogative also move into the same platform.

A: Yes, and also the other sizeable regions like China and Brazil, they will also be migrating to MQB, which is why in India circumvent we cannot stand without MQB, since it becomes costly to maintain regular standalone platform.

OD: Is Audi A3 further in the MQB platform.

A: Yes A3 is of MQB platform.

OD: So assuming Audi is to bring that conformity India, they will have to occupy that platform here.

A: That is ground we are pooling all the significance of Audi, Skoda everything, so deviate we can make some common put an end to. Lot of work is going statement behind the scene, I want know enter the expansion phase in Bharat as quickly as possible. It denunciation been felt acutely also in probity head quarters, not just in Bharat. For them India is very important, very ket region for our game table, and I am hopeful and sanguine that they will make really good decisions.