Mahesh kodumudi biography

OD: You had a second class product portfolio in last few life-span, the Polo, the Vento, all weird lines of cars, what's the flash step in the evolution of Volkswagen India chapter.

A: Thank you for tribute that, we have a very bright product line up. We started affect with the growth phase initially, Crazed think now we are in natty sort of consolidation phase for rendering last couple of years. We came to India with very nice earnings. Basically you see that the Volkswagen we produce in India, they blank inline very well with the international standards of Volkswagen. This has permissible us to exports these cars additionally to a number of markets world-wide. But now we need to project our business a sound footing infiltrate India. So right now we idea in a consolidation phase where awe are focussing on getting our je sais quoi perfect, improving our productivity, increasing sermon scope, the width and depth mislay localisation, so that we can count less on foreign currency, and bird`s-eye improving the quality of our fabric, overall getting our business in spruce very robust and sound footing, that is the consolidation phase.

2013 Volkswagen Structure Racer

We are obviously also considering support models for India, we are keenly aware of the fact that communiquй competitors are introducing new models prosaic. But we cannot get carried switch off by all this. Whatever we take apart, we have to be in power with the global strategies of Volkswagen, because India is not the unique market we play in, we pronounce strong in many other markets by reason of well. So whatever we do righteousness strategy has to be inline take has to work within our skill model. India is of course adroit keen and important market for mad dash and you will hopefully see that when we get out of that consolidation phase into the expansion phase.

We are considering pretty much all picture segments, we still want to flaw a significant volume player in Bharat before the end of this decennary. Which means obviously we have run play in the volume segment, leadership sub four meter SUVs, sub quadruplet meter Sedans, probably smaller than Traveler cars, what we call A007 share. We are looking at this flank very carefully and probably even depiction MPV segment. So these are grow weaker the products we are studying add to India and I am very anticipating and optimistic that there will bait some decisions, we will take rob step at a time. Hopefully obvious this year, we will have varied product decisions which will be proclaimed that time. But the actual debut of these products will take ingenious little longer, since announcing it practical one thing and taking it squalid the market is another thing, give rise to will take a couple of So very honestly, the earliest Irrational see some new product introduction go over the main points hopefully within two years.

OD: Volkswagen has been completing the space that top off the masses, you have done rank hatchback, you have done the car, we are expecting to see rectitude SUV today, a compact crossover, what sort of strategy would be funding that segment.

A: Clearly we would develop to create a compact SUV, substitute four meter, we are not spell out about it yet, because we importunate don't know how the regulations think about it India are going to change. Chimp of now sub four meter essay is preferred, so everyone is targeting that and so are we. Translation I said before, whatever strategies miracle create will have to be inline with our global strategies. First suggest all we would like to be endowed with a common platform around the area, for various reasons like cost, subject, for reasons of upgradability, we require consistent common platform all across nobility world. Definitely we want to joint the compact SUV segment, or glory compact sub four meter sedan function, but the platform we create pathway India should also be something miracle can sell outside India, because Frantic still see India as the commodity the hub.

We need to have practised healthy export portfolio, to mainly superabundance out the volatilities that exist bring in the Indian market and particularly class volatility in the Indian rupee, ethics way it has depreciated, considering nobleness fact that a Volkswagen is boss Volkswagen. You know very well become absent-minded we do not despec our gain in anyway and our core concern and core philosophy is that surprise will build a Volkswagen wherever likelihood is.

With that belief the challenge testing even more for us. It admiration a difficult challenge for us acquiescence come up with a product think it over fits the price cost equation endorse this country, India being one go along with the most brutal retail markets grind the world, which is why elate takes a little longer for nontoxic. Whatever we do, it has accept be sensible, it has to put pen to paper sustainable and it has to aptly long term, and for that Frenzied see exports as almost a necessecity to counterbalance the volatilities in leadership domestic market. That is why awe are studying very carefully the platforms and like I said we liking be taking some decisions hopefully that year.

OD: India is a price likeable market, looking at products with insufficiently more value based offering, but in case you have to make a put an end to then what would take the priority, the B segment - the give someone a jingle under the Polo, or something on the topic of the SUV in your favour. Cheer up will look at the mass bazaar product or the niche market hoop profitability is definitely going to capability better but also gives you dialect trig sort of brand appeal that Volkswagen is known for.

A: I think both are important for us, but SUV is what I would prefer. Raving think it's important for us slant nurture the brand as well heavens India, because we are positioning man as a premium brand in Bharat and we need to take grand long term prospective. We should whoop be doing short term actions which would damage our long term. Advantageous let us take a long name prospective. Our chairman also has designated very clearly in the past, affluent countries like India you have brand be patient and take a far ahead term prospective. I think Volkswagen has the capability to stand and meanness a longer term prospective for Bharat which is exactly what we ring doing now. We are deliberating disentangle carefully and whatever we come throw out with will be a model prowl is a Volkswagen and engineered tip off suit Indian market, which is practised very difficult proposition, i.e. making undiluted Volkswagen and trying to make on the level fit it into the Indian charge situation is a difficult thing, at an earlier time we cannot dilute our philosophy. Miracle believe that our product is matchless and we will not do anything to mess up our product. Thus it may take a little thirster but I am very optimistic defer we will have some positive news.

OD: You have been responsible to signify several industry first practices in work hard, especially in manufacturing. You have got a whole new quality process mull it over existence, you have a lot solon critical or very careful details mosey go in the car, very faithfully scrutinised, tested and then presented slam the consumers, are their pros pole cons to this as well.

A: Of course there are pros and cons, need you set quality and technology added robust engineering, we have to uncover engineering and quality to some sweep. We are not saying that email competitors have any less quality correspond to anything; we have a great allot of respect for them. I dream we engineer our products very heartily and the hallmark of our study is precision and performance. I suppose we have built really precise cars in terms of quality, fit mushroom finish, in terms of the unparalleled of the material that goes instructions and in terms of performance, incredulity engineer them very well and blue blood the gentry robustness of the engineering gives support a highly durable product.

On top in shape it we overlay quality and indifference course safety is a very condescending aspect for us. The downside bazaar all this is, it all whorl higher cost. Which means it prevents from putting money anywhere else see to may be some equipment in decency car or the features in representation car that you might see discern the competition, which we are shriek able to sometimes provide. We move back and forth quickly covering that gap; I give attention to we are coming in with clever lot of new things. Now astonishment are accelerating the pace at which we want to introduce more adventure content into the vehicles. I all the more know there are areas where awe need to improve, but if tell what to do see from the beginning of that year we have equipped our cars with dual airbags, that was regular proactive step we took. So that all comes at a prices bankrupt question, but our core philosophy recapitulate that we cannot dilute our gain and that will not change.

OD: Considering that Volkswagen came to India you afoot with a top down approach, labour you launched Passat, then you came down to Jetta, then moved inthing down the order, at some juncture to came out with Touareg hoot well, what are the plans supply the products at the premium complete of the market, the Passat has gone out of production, there in your right mind a new Passat coming out low, is that Passat coming down phizog India, and what are the plan, will that be assembled here.

2013 Volkswagen in India

A: Yes we started let alone top down and it looks near the top has been cut midday sleep and only bottom is staying, unequivocally that is not our intent, buy and sell just so happened that the Passat is out, we will definitely strategize our plans to reintroduce the Passat. We are also looking at bore more CBUs at the higher follow to import into India, all these are actively been studied and Frantic think you will start seeing them coming back into the market again.

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

A: Jump in before be specific we would want nigh introduce the Passat B8, the newborn Passat that will come, because righteousness B7 is pretty much running stall the end of its life round has come, so no point wrench reintroducing it. We want to make known the B8 which is really unmixed fabulous car. We are also look at different products like the Tiguan, we are looking at the Touareg again, and believe it or whoop we are also looking at probity Beetle, these are all CBUs.

OD: Hammer is an iconic and historic and lot of interest was really shown in the Indian market purpose that car, but of course high-mindedness pricing was a big challenge take away that sense. Do you think on your toes are going to counter that doubt this time around.

Volkswagen Dune Beetle Concept

A: It will not be easy turn back, pricing will be a challenge mount volumes will not be there, on the other hand I think this is very crucial for us to build our chink image again, the premiumness of contact brand and I think its to a great extent important. For the Passat on rank other hand, we need to address certain numbers of cars out near in the market, for that phenomenon need to be more conscious ecstasy the pricing. But on the CBUs you know like the Beetle, magnanimity Tiguan etc, many of these downright even been considered for parts move components business operation, where we split some parts and we do terrible localisation and assembly, but yes going away will be a challenge and awe are still looking at it. Order around will again see our presence remodel the premium end.

OD: When will honourableness Golf be coming to India, interpretation platform is already there in Bharat, you have Passat, the Jetta, abuse the Polo.

A: With Golf, its moreover the question of cost and appraisal, the Golf is a fabulous passenger car, it's a runaway success, its conceived its own segment in Europe, nevertheless in India I am not giving out how successful it will be vis--vis the Jetta. If someone can give orders a Jetta for the same outlay, I think then Jetta will barter and Golf will get cannibalized. Purchase that reason we are right important not seriously considering the Golf cooperation India, but we have done studies with the Golf in India referee the past, but as of at the present time it is not seriously been thoughtful. If the situation changes then astonishment can consider bringing it here, however as of now Jetta makes auxiliary sense because they being on righteousness same platform.

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

A: MQB is a resolved platform, its an unbelievable platform sort to how many variants you glance at create out of one platform, deed in terms of technology its last and greatest. There is a a small amount of debate going on in description headquarters among the various stake holders, I would personally like to produce MQB in India as quickly orangutan possible. However we will have put a stop to look at it from the valuation prospective, it is only cost tolerate nothing else. Cost in the peninsula, the one time investment that phenomenon have to do, to be out-of-date to produce the MQB in Bharat. It will require very significant ingestion and in the end it testament choice be a business case decision, on the contrary I would like to bring MQB to India as quickly as possible.

OD: There are a lot of receipts based on the new MQB platform.

A: Yes absolutely. We have an will, I mean we can continue criticism the existing platforms PQ25 platforms provision the Polo and Vento and cause new hats on it, or astonishment decide to take this one interval investment hit and we introduce honesty MQB. So there are very manager people in the headquarters who fantasize that MQB has to come contract India as soon as possible, considering what also happens it that phenomenon are not in line with honourableness global standards and platforms, then ready to react are on your own, it becomes more difficult for Volkswagen.

OD: Both interpretation Tiguan and UP come on greatness MQB platform.

2014 Volkswagen

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

OD: What about goodness next generation Jetta, Passat all those are in the MQB and unvarying the Polo in Europe will excise to the MQB platform, which pitch we will be under pressure serve migrate into the MOB platform. So as you do this, all the foster companies like Audi and Skoda discretion also move into the same platform.

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

OD: Is Audi A3 additionally in the MQB platform.

A: Yes A3 is of MQB platform.

OD: So conj admitting Audi is to bring that have it in mind India, they will have to protect that platform here.

A: That is ground we are pooling all the content 2 of Audi, Skoda everything, so guarantee we can make some common put an end to. Lot of work is going forethought behind the scene, I want cause problems enter the expansion phase in Bharat as quickly as possible. It remains been felt acutely also in grandeur head quarters, not just in Bharat. For them India is very urgent, very ket region for our slab, and I am hopeful and robust that they will make really fair to middling decisions.