VW working on low-cost MQB platform for countries like India - IAB Report

The platform would underpin successors to the Polo and Vento. 

VW's modular MQB platform is forming the basis for numerous cars across its brands, and will continue to underpin future vehicles. For example, currently, cars as small as the Golf to those as large as the new Passat are based on this platform. Going forth, the next generation of the Polo is expected to use the MQB as well.

However, VW India has no plans on localizing or manufacturing this platform at its Chakan plant. While models from the VW Group such as the Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 Sedan are based on the MQB platform, it is to be noted that these cars are assembled using CKD kits at the Aurangabad facility of Skoda and Audi.

IAB learns that VW is instead developing a low cost version of the MQB platform, which will be primarily targeted at developing countries like India and Brazil. The next generation of the Polo and Vento are likely to be based on this platform, as will products like a compact SUV.

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VW believes that it will be able to price its cars more competitively with this platform, and yet develop new top hats to increase its product presence. In India particularly, the German car maker wants to shed its image of a "two-car manufacturer".