Volkswagen India's Autofest 2024: A Mega Exchange Carnival With Exclusive Deals

Updated: Thursday, July 4, 2024, 12:01 [IST]

Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has kicked off its Autofest Mega Exchange Carnival 2024, offering customers the chance to upgrade to a new Volkswagen vehicle with special benefits and deals from 3rd July to 20th July 2024. Additionally, Volkswagen has rebranded its used car business, Das WeltAuto., to 'Volkswagen Certified Pre-Owned’ to align with the brand's global positioning.

The rebranding aims to leverage the core Volkswagen brand's strength and trust, enhancing the visibility and value of the pre-owned car program in India. The first rebranded 'Volkswagen Certified Pre-Owned’ showroom was inaugurated in Coimbatore today.

Volkswagen Certified Pre-Owned

'Volkswagen Certified Pre-Owned’ will continue its multi-brand pre-owned car business but will focus more on Volkswagen models. This initiative includes refurbishment, certification, and warranties for cars sold through this channel, aiming to offer a seamless and fully digitized customer journey.

Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, stated, "Today, we are delighted to announce the start of Autofest Mega Exchange Carnival that will give customers a chance to upgrade to a new Volkswagen car. With Autofest customers can avail exciting deals and offers that are available for a limited time period."

He added, "We have also announced the strategic rebranding of our used car business to 'Volkswagen Certified Pre-Owned’ and also launched the first rebranded store in Coimbatore. Rebranding our used car business aligns with the global positioning of this business vertical for the Brand."

Growing Demand for Pre-Owned Vehicles

This rebranding comes amid rising demand for pre-owned cars as consumers seek aspirational vehicles at accessible prices. The former Das WeltAuto. brand saw a ten-fold growth in volumes over five years. Retail sales through this channel grew by 12 percent last year and continued into the first half of 2024.

Tier 2 towns have significantly driven this growth, contributing notably to increasing demand. The recently launched 6th Edition of Indian Blue Book established the residual value of the Volkswagen Taigun at greater than 81% after two years since sale.

Expansion Plans

Currently, Volkswagen India operates 139 touchpoints trading in certified pre-owned cars across the country, with 36 functioning as exclusive certified pre-owned outlets. The company plans to expand this footprint in phases by March 2025.

The strategic move aims to better serve growing demand for high-quality certified pre-owned vehicles. Mr. Gupta noted that they have already seen strong demand in the first half of this year and expect this momentum to grow during the festive season.

This initiative underscores Volkswagen's commitment to providing customers with reliable certified cars while enhancing their overall experience through digital advancements.