Volkswagen's Three Year Old Pune, India Plant Rolls Out 300,000th Car

Volkswagen AG's (FRA:VOW3) Indian subsidiary said that its plant in the western city of Pune made its 300,000th car on Tuesday. Amid the typical pomp and circumstance associated with symbolic production milestones, a white left-hand-drive Vento rolled off the assembly line.

“The Vento in itself is a milestone for Volkswagen in India. Though it was a car designed and built for India, it got wide acceptance in the international market as well,” said Mahesh Kodumudi, president and managing director of Volkswagen India Private Limited.

The $771-million plant, the largest investment in the subcontinent by a German company, went online on March 31, 2009, and has averaged 189 vehicles a day since. The plant has an annual capacity of 110,000 units. The plant was built with about $180 million in loans from a World Bank lender, according to Reuters.

The small family car has been produced in India since 2010 but is being exported this year to the Gulf Cooperation Council member states Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. The Pune plant also produces the Polo, the Škoda Rapid and Škoda Fabia. Škoda is one of Volkswagen’s nine brands. It exports vehicles to over 30 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East.