Bollywood actor Siddharth Malhotra poses inside an Audi Q5 car during its launch event in Mumbai on November 23, 2021.
(Photo : AFP via Getty Images)
Despite facing a global semiconductor shortage, Audi managed to record strong sales in India in 2021, reporting a two-fold jump in retail sales at 3,293 vehicles in the subcontinent last year. Audi India attributed the company's impressive performance to the popularity of its electric vehicles, with the e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT, e-tron 50, e-tron 55, and e-tron Sportback 55, proving to be a hit among Indian buyers.
Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon recently talked to TNIE in an interview, detailing the company's EV strategy in India. Dhillon said that Audi has the widest range of electric vehicles on offer in India, with the aforementioned e-tron models receiving a fantastic response from Indian customers.
Dhillon said that the first batch of Audi's electric cars was sold out in a matter of days. Demand for Audi EVs remains strong in India, with the German luxury carmaker having a strong order bank for this year. According to Dhillon, Audi is targeting 15 percent of its sales to come from electric vehicles by 2025, with the brand aiming for the complete electrification of its lineup by 2033.
Pre-owned car business to be major growth driver for Audi India
Dhillon also talked about Audi India's pre-owned car business, saying that sector has consistently grown and continues to be an important part of the company's overall business strategy. Dhillon believes it will be one of the major growth drivers for Audi in the future, with the company having a clear focus on selling every car twice.
Dhillon said they are currently expanding their Audi Approved: plus facilities which presently stand at 14 after starting with just seven last year. Audi India recently inaugurated showroom networks in Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana Ahmedabad, Nashik, Mumbai (South), and Surat. The company plans to have at least 20 Audi Approved: plus facilities in India this year.
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Dhillon hopeful luxury car market will pick up pace this year
Dhillon remained confident that Audi will have strong sales in the subcontinent in 2022, saying that the luxury car market in India is showing encouraging signs, and they believe that pace will once again pick up in the coming months.
Dhillon noted that the luxury car segment in India had remained less than 2 percent of the overall passenger vehicle vertical. That being the case, the luxury car market has great potential for growth in India provided they have a stable policy regime and reasonable duties or tax structure for luxury vehicles.
Audi is lining up a slew of products to achieve record sales this year, with the company playing a balancing act between selling conventional and electric vehicles. Dhillon said that while the ongoing semiconductor shortage remains a concern and a challenge in India and the entire world, Audi will ensure full-year availability of its products in the country in 2022.
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