Volkswagen Beetle set to scorch Indian roads from 2009

Presently, the new Beetle is manufactured at the VW Puebla factory in Mexico and it is expected to come to India as CBUs (completely built units).

Volkswagen, which launched its sedan Jetta last month, has already found success with its Skoda, Audi and VW Passat variants in the Indian market. The fourth largest automaker in the world is also eyeing India's growing small car market and plans to use the Beetle as a brand building tool.

Volkswagen also plans to make a compact car based on the Polo platform and launch it in 2010. However, it would not compete with the world's cheapest car, Tata Motor's Nano, Mueller said.

"Our small car will be an absolutely new car and designed specially for India. It will be a premium hatchback and will fit in the higher end of the C segment. It has nothing to do with Nano," Mueller said.

The compact car would be manufactured at Volkswagen's upcoming greenfield plant at Chakan in Pune in which the company is investing Rs.3500 crore ($875 million).

The plant would also produce Skoda Fabia from next year, Mueller said.