An Oman-based NRI Sameet Sampat will
be in-charge of the companys vehicle sales in the western Indian
markets. NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 17, 2004 Its a strategy tailor-made for Asias second fastest growing car market called India. As its entry plan for the market, Audi has decided to court leading Indian corporate honchos like Amit Burman of Dabur and Jubilant Corps Shyam & Hari Bhartia for establishing a retail network across India.
"We were looking for people who know and understand the brand and who will be in the business of selling an experience and not just cars. So we chose Burman, Bhartias and Sampat as our retail faces for India," Kaul said. "They belong to families that almost every Indian knows. That will help us establish the Audi brand in India," he added. The Volkswagen group firm, through these dealerships, has started booking orders for selling its cars A6 and TT Coupe. The TT Coupe will sport a tag of Rs 32 lakh while the A6 will be priced at Rs 35 lakh. The TT Coupe will be offered in two variants 1.8 T and the all-road 2.5 TDI. At a later stage, Audi also intends introducing its entry-level A4 and the top-end S4 models in India. Audi, Kaul said, is looking strategically into the future and putting its money on India. "The luxury car market in India has tripled in the last five years. With this dealer network in India, Audi is betting on the market of the future." Audi is banking its projected growth in India on a two-pronged
strategy. In the first phase, it will build and spread awareness and
brand image amongst its target audience through the retail network.
In the next phase, the firm intends to establish an assembly unit in
India for locally producing its cars. |
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