Dial 9-1-1 for freedom

With Volkswagen moving aggressively to deliver more products to its Indian customers, from brands like Volkswagen to Audi and Skoda, the Stuttgart-based car marquee has decided to use this leverage and join the elite club by launching Porsche in India, says Ammar Alvi.

German sports marquee Porsche recently appointed its parent company Volkswagen as the official importer of its vehicles in India. As per the sales records available since 2004, the Zuffenhausen-based manufacturer delivered 1,052 units to its customers in India, 85 per cent of which are Cayenne SUVs. So far the company was selling cars through another importer, Precision Cars India, but with parent firm Volkswagen well- stablished in India, it was a matter of time before it joined the VW club.

According to Anil Reddi, head of Porsche division at Volkswagen Group Sales India, “Building on the success of Porsche in India isn’t a challenge; it’s something we are looking forward to embracing with pride. Indian clientele expect a lot from their cars, and they will find Porsche not only meets, but exceeds their expectations. I’m confident that with our dedicated team, we’ll take Porsche to the next level.”

The company is gearing to launch the new-generation 911 Carrera and Panamera diesel. The rear-wheel drive 911 is priced at `96.97 lakh, and pumps 354.8 PS with a peak torque of 390 Nm@5,600 rpm. On the other hand, the soon-to-be-launched Panamera diesel develops 253.4 PS of power@3,800-4,400 rpm with peak torque of 550Nm@1,750-2,750 rpm and a top speed of 242kmph. Despite slow sales in the last few years, Porsche hopes to aggressively close the gap, open more dealerships and make the brand more accessible. The company also has high expectations from the recently-announced Macan SUV, that’s likely to roll out of production lines in 2013.

According to George Willis, managing director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, “With this agreement, we’re looking to explore opportunities across India even further. Development of emerging markets is clearly important for Porsche’s future, and we’re confident sales in the subcontinent will continue to grow, especially with new models being introduced.”