New Delhi: Volkswagen-owned Bugatti Automobiles on Thursday launched its super-premium car with price starting at Rs 16 crore. It will be the costliest car available in India The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is more than three times costlier than its closest competitiors.
So far, the most expensive cars in India have been the Rolls Royce Phantom and the Maybach, which are priced at around Rs 5 crore.
The car, assembled by hand at Molsheim in France, can hit a top speed of 407 km an hour and reach a speed of 100 km in a little over two seconds. A maximum of 150 units would be produced of the car powered by a 16-cylinder engine.
Julius Kruta, head of tradition at Bugatti Automobiles, said that the introduction of the car in the Indian market was a sign of the importance of emerging markets in the company's plans. He said that typically Europe, the US and West Asian countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia account for 95% of the total sales.
"We launched the car in China last year. Launches in India and Brazil are at the same time. This segment is different from the mass market. We plan to create new relationship with dealers and our customers," he said. Interestingly Kruta said that Indian customers globally outnumbered Chinese.
Apart from the Grand Sport, the company also manufactures the Super Sport Veyron that has recorded a top speed of 431 km an hour. However, Kruta ruled out introduction of this car to India as its produced in small numbers.
Guy Caquelin, sales market manager, West Asia, Europe & India of Bugatti Automobiles, said the super luxury car market globally was growing at 25% annually, which opens a window of opportunity for Bugatti models. The delivery time period for the car would be 6-8 months. The company has sold 50 Bugattis in 2010 so far, he added.
Pradeep Saxena, senior vice-president of TNS Automotive, said the launch of the Veyron Grand Sport was a watershed for consumersim in India. "Typically India has been known as a bottom of the pyramid market. However, with this launch that theory has literally been upturned," he said.
Brand strategist Harish Bijoor agreed. He said that with the launch India had become home to the world's cheapest car (Tata Nano) and the most expensive car in the world.
"It reflects the polarisation within the country. It puts India in the consumptive map of the world," he said.
Source: Financial Express
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