German Luxury Auto Giant Volkswagen Enters Used-Car Biz Under Das WeltAuto Brand

Mumbai: German luxury car-maker Volkswagen forayed into the multi-brand pre-owned car business under Das WeltAuto brand and expects it to contribute 25 percent to the company's total sales.

At present, Mahindra First Choice is the leader in the 60,000-crore multi-brand used car market.

Volkswagen expects 25 percent of its sales to come through this new business, company's Managing Director for Passenger Cars Arvind Saxena said after inaugurating the dealership in the city.

Das WeltAuto is the global pre-owned car business of the Volkswagen group.

Volkswagen has set up 15 dealerships and would add six more by December, he said, adding, "This would help us gain deeper access."

"In all, we will have 50 outlets by the end of next year," Saxena said.

The pre-owned car business, which was pioneered by country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki way back in 2000 under the brand True Value, today stands at 1.3 times higher than the new car business.

Industry estimates suggest that of the total pre-owned car business, about 12-14 percent comes from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which is expected to go up to 18 percent over the next five years.

"The growth rate is much higher than the new car sales. It is an important activity and no OEM can miss it out. And for this simple reason, we have also ventured into this segment," Saxena said.

"We have stringent systems and processes that ensure every pre-owned car undergoes a 160-point checklist besides offering a warranty, which so far no other has offered," he added.