Production Of Volkswagen Tiguan Starts In India

The Tiguan, which is set to become the first VW model in India to feature the MQB platform, will go up against the Hyundai Tucson and the upcoming Jeep Compass. 

(In Picture: VW Tiguan at VW Group’s Aurangabad plant)

Volkswagen India has commenced the local production of its upcoming SUV, the Tiguan, at VW Group’s Aurangabad facility in Maharashtra. This facility also manufactures cars for Skoda and Audi. Since the local production of the Tiguan has started, it’s likely to be launched soon as well. 

In February, the German automaker announced the arrival of the second-generation Tiguan and the eighth-generation Passat in the country this year. Both of these models made their Indian debut at the 2016 Auto Expo last year in February. 

(In Picture: VW Tiguan at VW Group’s Aurangabad plant)

The Tiguan is all set to become the first VW model in India to features the German conglomerate's MQB platform (modular transverse matrix). The second-gen Tiguan made its world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and its European sales commenced in April 2016. Though Volkswagen used to offer the Touareg in India (discontinued in 2014), the first-generation Tiguan never made it to the country. 

(In Picture: European model)

Local production of the Tiguan will help VW to price it competitively. Its prime adversary, the Tucson, starts at Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). And we can expect Volkswagen to price the Tiguan in the vicinity of Rs 25 lakh. Also, unlike the Tucson, the Tiguan is likely to come with six airbags as standard, like the Jetta, which sits below in the VW India's line-up.     

(In Picture: European model)

Mechanically, the Tiguan will come only with an option of a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine (possibly in the 177PS/350Nm state of tune) mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (VW’s DSG transmission). VW India is also expected to offer its 4MOTION all-wheel-drive drivetrain option with the Tiguan. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, is not offered with an all-wheel-drive option. Besides the Tucson, the VW Tiguan will also go up against the Jeep Compass, and the all-new Honda CR-V diesel, which is expected to enter India in the near future. Stay tuned to CarDekho for more updates on the Tiguan. 

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