- The tour is inspired by two visually challenged interns – Jyoti and Usha, at Volkswagen Pune Plant, who trained and then conducted a walk through the plant for its employees
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The tour focussed on being an experience of automotive manufacturing through senses beyond vision
Pune, July 03rd, 2017: Visitor Services division at Volkswagen India has designed a unique tour at its Pune facility for the visually challenged. The idea for such a tour came from two visually challenged interns who spent some time understanding the functioning of Volkswagen Pune Plant. As part of the internship programme the enthusiastic duo, Jyoti Gore and Usha Shinde former students of the Jagrity School for Blind Girls, understood various steps of production by memorising the processes and recording the typical sounds and even smells during the walk through the plant. Not just that, they also learnt in detail about cars through touch by feeling the shape of the car, quality of the leather and the cockpit.
On completion of the internship, the two girls impressed the employees of Volkswagen India by taking them around the plant and explaining them how the cars are built at the facility. The exercise impressed all the participants instantly and thus came the idea of a unique plant tour that could become a regular feature for the visually challenged people in the future. Not only does the tour help the differently abled people understand how Volkswagen builds its cars, but also provides a fresh perspective even for those with common abilities.
Jyoti and Usha have not let their inability to see keep them from learning and having new experiences. During their time on the shop floor they have met new people, understood their job profiles, visited different areas across the plant and mapped the facility that is now being can be presented to other visually impaired guests of Volkswagen.
Dr. Andreas Lauermann, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited said, “As much as we can offer to teach young and talented individuals, there are times when we have the opportunity to learn from them as well. Jyoti and Usha have given us such an opportunity to see a different side to our Pune Plant.” He further added, “The success of this project is now making us look forward to more of such tours in the future.”
About Volkswagen Group India: The Volkswagen Group is represented by five passenger car brands in India: Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Group has been present in India for the last 15 years and began its India journey with the entry of the ŠKODA brand in 2001. The Audi brand and Volkswagen brand entered India in 2007, while Porsche brand and Lamborghini brand followed in 2012. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity in the market. Volkswagen Group India has over 25 models in India, over 240 dealerships and is operating two plants – Pune and Aurangabad. The Pune Plant has a manufacturing capacity of 200,000 cars per year (maximum in three-shift system) and is currently manufacturing Volkswagen Polo, Ameo and Vento and ŠKODA Rapid. The Aurangabad Plant assembles various premium and luxury models of Audi, ŠKODA and Volkswagen sold in India and has an annual capacity of approximately 89,000. Volkswagen Group India is a part of Volkswagen AG, which is globally represented by 12 brands – Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scania, SEAT, ŠKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, MAN and Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
