Earlier last month, it was announced that Skoda Auto will be responsible for new VW Group models for the Indian market in the future. Through a press conference, the company has now described in detail the plans and corresponding timelines for what’s termed as India Project 2.0.
As made clear earlier, all the VW Group models designed and produced in India will be based on the MQB platform. Skoda Auto will first begin with the MQB A0 (or MQB A0 IN) and will later explore the exports market. Volkswagen has earmarked an investment of one billion euros for the project, to be spent between 2019 and 2021. There will be several models as a part of the project, starting with a mid-sized SUV in 2020. In order to carry on with the research and development work, there will also be a new engineering centre set up in India. With which Skoda aims at creating 4000 – 5000 new jobs.
Skoda Auto India’s MD, Gurpratap Boparai said, “With the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, ŠKODA AUTO India and Volkswagen Group India are in an excellent position to optimally confront the dynamics of the Indian car market. In India, we will offer world-class products at prices that amount to a paradigm shift in the automotive industry. We will manufacture the new products on the localised MQB A0 platform, which already fulfils the stricter emission and safety standards that are expected to come into force in India in 2020.”
Bernhard Maier, CEO, Skoda Auto said, “Experts predict that in the next few years India is going to become the third-largest automotive market worldwide. With our ‘INDIA 2.0’ project we are now creating the right conditions for sustainable growth there. Our objective is ambitious, but achievable: together with the Volkswagen brand, we are seeking a market share of up to five per cent in the long term, depending on market and segment development.”
