Volvo to launch S60 sedan, X60 SUV in India

Swedish luxury car-maker Volvo Car, is likely to launch its luxury sedan S60 in India by 2010, once the car is reintroduced in the European markets in the middle of next year.

Volvo Car India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford-owned Volvo Cars, says it plans to introduce its global models in a phased manner. "We will launch the S60 in the Indian market after it is rolled out in Europe in the middle of next year. We hope to have it in India before the end of 2010," Volvo Car India managing director Paul de Voijs said in New Delhi on Thursday.

The S60 was phased out in May this year, and the new car would be an advanced version, he added. The car would be imported as a completely-built unit from Volvo's parent facility in Belgium.

Gothenburg-based Volvo Cars, which currently has 10 cars in its portfolio, is looking at launching two or three new models in India after testing the waters and seeing the market response.

Voijs said the company is also exploring possibilities of introducing its XC60 SUV in India, though no dates have been finalised. Volvo Car India currently sells its XC90 SUV and S80 sedan in the country in both petrol and diesel versions. It sold about 100 units last year.

Asked about setting up a production facility in India, Voijs said the firm would look at this only after achieving a certain sales target. ''We will look for annual sales of maybe around 2,000-3,000 units before setting up an assembly plant here. Our major plants in Sweden and Belgium have still got a lot of extra capacity," he added.