Mercedes making dizzying sales for the first two months of the year 2011 and the luxury car market on a roll already, it was time for another German, Porsche to up the heat in India. Porsche has been quiet in India since the time they dropped in here but seeing the market trend slanting towards luxury cars, they have made a bold statement that they are aiming for sales of 500 cars for the year 2011.
For the year 2010, Porsche managed to just sell only 130 units however 2011 looks to be a far better prospect with about 217 booking already received by the company. Porsche unlike its other German compatriots doesn’t believe in advertising their stuff and depends heavily on automobile magazines and online blogs to spread the word. Mohamed Rahman, Porsche’s West Asia Director said that Porsche is also looking forward to introducing the Porsche Panamera Hybrid version in India within few months. Most of the sales made by Porsche India are from its Cayenne SUV model and keeping in line with the same, the company has also recently introduced the twin turbo version of the Porsche Cayenne diesel. Most of the buyers in this category happen to be buisnessmen and entrepreneurs. The new Panamera would be introduced in India with an all new 3 liter petrol engine.
To spruce up sales and to build the brand trust factor, Porsche is opening a new show room in South India, Chennai to be exact. Moreover, the company is also set to have atleast 8 show rooms all over India by end of 2011. As of now, the company boasts of only three show rooms in India. Moreover all their cars are imported as CBUs into India and then sold to the customers. No mention of setting up their own facilities in India was made.