Donnelly who is taking part in the India Economic Summit 2007 said, like Russians, Indian consumers liked 'cool' cars as a means of self-expression, and demand was currently high.
The businessman said that despite comparatively low incomes in the country with a population of 1.13 billion, wealthy people needed a special approach, referring to models worth $25,000 to $40,000.
However, Donnelly said his company did not plan to compete with the current players on the local market, and would target imported cars and servicing.
ROLF will initially open dealerships in three regions in western India before the third quarter of 2008. Donnelly then said he expected the success of the brand would allow other outlets to open in other regions.
The distributor is also eyeing other countries, where consumers, like Russians, have a taste for luxury cars and are image conscious, including Vietnam, China, South Africa, as well as the former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
ROLF is Russia's largest official dealer for new Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Audi, Ford, Mazda, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, Land Rover and Renault models.
The Forbes magazine has ranked ROLF the 15th largest privately-owned company in Russia. Last year the company sold 133,000 cars pushing its turnover beyond $2.7 billion.
