Volkswagen had reportedly discontinued selling the Passat in the Indian market. However, an official clarification from the company claims that it is very much selling the Passat in India even as it reports nil sales during the months of October and November. This clarification from the company might have been done to clear stock of the already produced units. Volkswagen is currently developing the next generation Passat which is being built on the MQB platform. The car has been spied at various locations around the globe sporting the company’s new design theme.
Volkswagen has sold 670 units of the Passat in the first eleven months of the current fiscal. However, its sister concern Skoda has sold 1179 units of the Superb. The premium sedans in this segment have been overshadowed by the cars launched by various premium carmakers including the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class, BMW 1-Series and the Volvo V40 Cross Country. In addition, the customers are preferring butch looking SUVs for its sheer stance and off-roading capabilities over these premium and highly accomplished sedans.
Owing to the poor sales performance of D-segment luxury sedans, manufacturers have shifted their focus on smaller segments which help them sell large volumes. The depreciation in the rupee value has forced the companies to transfer its burden onto the customers. Volkswagen has been selling the Passat in India since 2007. The eighth generation Passat that is expected to be launched next year will have redesigned headlamps, tail lights and profile. A hybrid version of the Passat is also on the cards. With poor sales in the recent past, a new model is possibly the only hope for the Passat to sell good numbers in the Indian sub-continent.
