Skoda Auto has announced that it will begin assembling electric vehicles in India starting in 2027. According to reports, the Brand Director of Skoda Auto India stated that the company is currently testing the Enyaq SUV in India. The auto giant is likely to launch the SUV sometime in 2024. The OEM is also aiming to launch six electric cars globally by 2027.
According to the CEO of Skoda Auto, Klaus Zellmer, locally assembling the electric vehicles in India will enable the brand to maintain the price of its EVs, which would also help Skoda meet its target of obtaining a 5 percent market share in the domestic Indian passenger vehicle market by 2030.
Read more: Skoda Kushaq Explorer Unveiled in India
The Brand Director of Skoda Auto India, Petr Janeba, stated that, "We are deep in e-mobility. In the next three years we will expand to six models and out of this, one specific model we should bring to India as well. The ultimate target is latest by 2027 we will be assembling full battery electric vehicle here in India. added. Initially, Skoda Auto India aims to start its EV operations in India by importing completely built units (CBU). There are various scenarios depending on the regulation but we will probably start with (import of) CBU (completely built unit), we think that something should come even in 2024."
The compact sports utility segment is growing fast in the Indian PV market. Manufacturers like Mahindra, Tata Motors, Kia, and Hyundai have already unveiled their compact SUVs on the market. Skoda is also aiming to make its mark in this segment with upcoming compact SUV models. Launching new models will also help the OEM reach out to tier three and tier four cities in India, where it intends to extend its sales network in the upcoming months.
Janeba added that the company is aiming to sell approximately 90,000 units each year, with the possibility of selling up to one lakh. "63 per cent of the new car buyers in India, choose a sub-four meter and we were not present in this segment and if we want to start in this segment, it's absolutely logical that we take the most desirable and the fastest growing segment which is the SUVs. In the addressable market in India, out of last year 4 million sold cars we saying that the potential for our compact SUV is anywhere between 60,000 and 90,000 cars," he added.
