New Delhi: Electric is the buzzword for the German luxury maker Audi Which drove in its first set of green cars in India under e-tron badging costing Rs 1 crore and above (ex-showroom) as the company takes on compatriot Mercedes Benz’s EQC and a line before Tesla’s entry – Prepares up.
The company is also looking at local assembly of the electrics in India over the next few years, and the plan will be launched jointly with the parent Volkswagen and India’s flagship brand Skoda.
Hit hard by stiff competition, Audi has been struggling for volumes in India for the past few years and the problems only escalated after the company decided to exit diesel last year.
However, with a stable petrol strategy and now a firm eye on electrics, the company – once a top luxury seller but now trailing BMW and Mercedes (which is leading the way) – is confident it will make a comeback.
Hence, on Thursday, Audi offered three electric SUVs under its e-tron range (e-tron 50, e-tron 55 and e-tron Sportback 55), and they will be priced between Rs 99.9 lakh and Rs 1.18 crore. . – showroom).
Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon said the company will set up around 100 charging points in 75 cities, while also looking at setting up infra across major highways and the Golden Quadrilateral network.
Dhillon said manufacturing electrics in India would take time, and added that the central government should reduce, or do away with, the over 100% import duty on greens.
“Yes, the GST rate of 5% is attractive, and some states like Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra have also abolished the registration fee on electrics. However, we also need relief on the customs front.”
Heavy import duties are one of the reasons behind plans for local production, although he said this would come only after achieving “substantial scale” in sales. “It is premature to talk about it at present, although it is certainly on the cards in the future.”
Asked if the company will never bring diesel to India, he said it “has not given up” on the fuel, though it is still unclear when it will be introduced again.
The company is also looking at local assembly of the electrics in India over the next few years, and the plan will be launched jointly with the parent Volkswagen and India’s flagship brand Skoda.
Hit hard by stiff competition, Audi has been struggling for volumes in India for the past few years and the problems only escalated after the company decided to exit diesel last year.
However, with a stable petrol strategy and now a firm eye on electrics, the company – once a top luxury seller but now trailing BMW and Mercedes (which is leading the way) – is confident it will make a comeback.
Hence, on Thursday, Audi offered three electric SUVs under its e-tron range (e-tron 50, e-tron 55 and e-tron Sportback 55), and they will be priced between Rs 99.9 lakh and Rs 1.18 crore. . – showroom).
Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon said the company will set up around 100 charging points in 75 cities, while also looking at setting up infra across major highways and the Golden Quadrilateral network.
Dhillon said manufacturing electrics in India would take time, and added that the central government should reduce, or do away with, the over 100% import duty on greens.
“Yes, the GST rate of 5% is attractive, and some states like Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra have also abolished the registration fee on electrics. However, we also need relief on the customs front.”
Heavy import duties are one of the reasons behind plans for local production, although he said this would come only after achieving “substantial scale” in sales. “It is premature to talk about it at present, although it is certainly on the cards in the future.”
Asked if the company will never bring diesel to India, he said it “has not given up” on the fuel, though it is still unclear when it will be introduced again.
.