Volkswagen India has commenced local assembly of its premium SUV, the Tayron R-Line, marking another step in the company’s strategy to expand its higher-end product portfolio in the country, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Assembly begins ahead of 2026 launch

The Tayron R-Line is being assembled at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility in Maharashtra and has begun rolling off the production line ahead of its planned market launch in the first quarter of 2026. The model was globally unveiled less than a year ago, making India one of the early markets to see local production of the vehicle.

Local assembly is expected to help Volkswagen manage costs and pricing while responding to demand in the premium SUV segment, which has continued to show resilience despite broader fluctuations in the passenger vehicle market. The Tayron R-Line is positioned above the company’s existing India portfolio and will be its most premium SUV offering once launched.

Strengthening Volkswagen’s SUV portfolio

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said the start of production strengthens Volkswagen’s SUV portfolio in the country. “The Tayron R-Line represents a strategic addition to our line-up and reflects our focus on aligning global products with Indian customer expectations,” he said. 

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said the company continues to see demand for premium models in the domestic market. “Local assembly allows us to make global Volkswagen products more accessible to Indian customers while maintaining quality and efficiency,” he said.

Positioning in the premium SUV segment

 The Tayron R-Line is a three-row SUV and is expected to target buyers looking for larger, feature-rich vehicles positioned above mid-size offerings. Volkswagen currently sells the Taigun, Virtus, Tiguan R-Line and Golf GTI in India.

For Volkswagen, the Tayron R-Line adds another layer to its India strategy as it looks to deepen its footprint without committing to full-scale manufacturing for all imported models.

 Market rollout next

With production now underway, Volkswagen India is expected to begin preparations for dealer training and market rollout ahead of the vehicle’s official launch later this year.