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Swedish luxury car maker Volvo Cars today said it has appointed Charles Frump as the new Managing Director of Indian operations. Frump replaces Tom von Bonsdorff who has moved to his home country Finland to pursue a new assignment within the Volvo Group after completing his tenure in India. Volvo Auto India Director-Sales & Marketing Jyoti Malhotra was the acting Managing Director in the interim. "It is a great opportunity to join Volvo Cars in India. As one of the highest potential luxury car markets in the world, India is extremely important for Volvo," Frump said in a statement. He added: "My role here is to continue and accelerate the robust growth for Volvo cars in India. I am well aware of the diversity and challenges India poses and I believe my experience in other emerging markets will help significantly in achieving our goals here." Frump has been associated with Volvo Car Group for over eight years. His previous stint with the group was in Sweden where he .
Two years of double-digit growth in the Indian market is making Swedish luxury car maker Volvo look at expanding its operations, with possibly local assembly.All Volvos sold in India are imported as completely built units and attract 120 per cent in various duties. Local assembly would bring duties down to 70 per cent and help the firm grow. "We would look at ways to start local assembly. One of the ways could be through a third party, with existing infrastructure. Of course, a lot of our people will be involved in the process," said Tom Von Bonsdorff, managing director of Volvo Auto India. Volvo sold about 1,600 cars in India in the 2016 calendar year, growing a little more than 12 per cent to its 2015 volumes. Volumes had grown 18 per cent in 2015. The company said the first quarter of this calendar year also saw double-digit growth. "We look to accelerate it. We should hopefully do 2,000-plus this year," said Bonsdorff. The firm competes with the German trio of Mercedes, Audi and ..