New variant of Jetta in 2nd half of 2011

German auto major Volkswagen would introduce a new variant of its luxury sedan 'Jetta' in the second half of this year, a top company official said today. Introduced in 2008, the company sold around 2,500 units of Jetta in 2010. 

Asked if they would replace the existing Jetta, Volkswagen Passenger cars Director and Board member Neeraj Garg told reporters here: "We will finish the existing ones (sales) and get in the new one in the second half of this calendar year." He said they would study the market on the new 'Blue Motion Technology before launching the other models based on it. 

Volkswagen recently launched their premium luxury sedan 'Passat' equipped with Blue Motion technology. Garg said blue motion technology offers various features like 'Attention Assist' that detects driver fatigue and emits a warning signal, recommending a break from driving. Garg said they had received bookings for 100 units of Passat from across the country in the last two days alone. 

"We will have to see the effectiveness of the Blue Motion Technology on how they (customers) like it.. Then we will try to make it in other models also," he said. He said they would begin delivery of Passat models later this month. 

Garg was here to unveil their 71st store in the country "Volkswagen Mount Road". Volkswagen has appointed Chennai based Sundaram Motors as its dealer. This year,they also plan to add two more dealerships in Tamil Nadu, taking the total to eight. On the occasion Garg also introduced the Passat in Tamil Nadu, costing Rs 20.80 lakh (Ex-showroom Chennai). 

Cashing in on the IPL season, Garg unveiled the IPL variant of mid-size sedan Vento with 1.6 litre petrol engine. The vehicle would have plush leatherette, IPL decals, specially crafted doorsill garnish with an IPL Logo and cricket kit as a gift for buyers. 

In 2010-2011 fiscal Volkswagen sold 51,608 units. Currently, Volkswagen retails Passat, Jetta, Vento, hatchback Polo, premium SUV Touareg, Beetle in India.It sold 8,095 units in March 2011 as against 987 units sold in the same period of the previous year.