You think success in India hinges on cheap little cars? Audi thinks overpriced big cars can be good business also. If IBN’s sources are correctly informed, and if the Crores Rupees converter I found on the net is correctly programmed, Audio wants to sell 1 million dollar A8s to the Indians.
Of course it’s not any old A8. Audi plans to sell its A8 L Security model to India. This is an armored car that can withstand attacks from AK-47s and hand grenades, and therefore any haphazard terrorist attack.
At the car show in Delhi, Audi has received about “20 active enquiries” from government departments and businessmen in India, says the report. The Audi A8 L Security is purpose-built by Audi in Germany.
The market in India is wide open for German armor. The President of India travels in a Mercedes Benz S600 Pullman Guard. The Indian Prime Minister travels in a recently acquired armored BMW 7 Series. His Special Protection Group members escort him in BMW X5 Security Plus models.
The price of the Audi A8 L Security is estimated at around one million dollars, depending on extras and gadgets.
A source told IBN that Audi will not sell the car to regular customers, saying that “it will always be very selective sale. Audi is also eyeing defence, para-military and police forces in India.”
Just in case Audi wants to add a little light touch to its marketing, how about this for a jingle?
If GM and Ford are trying to be global players, why are they not tackling this market? This is a market worldwide (limited, but ever expanding).
And in this segment they would offer, what? An armored Suburban or Escalade ala POTUS? Ford has nothing that i’m aware of, save the Panther (RIP) with ballistic door panels.
An A8 seems more classy than these.