Volkswagen's Skoda to invest 1b euro to revive India sales
[NEW DELHI] European automaker Skoda plans to produce a new mid-sized sport utility vehicle in India, it said on Monday, as part of a 1-billion-euro (S$1.59 billion) investment by its parent Volkswagen to revive sales in one of the world's fastest growing automobile markets.
Volkswagen also plans to expand its manufacturing unit at Aurangabad in western India and set up a new engineering center to help raise its market share to 5 per cent by 2025.
Skoda's expansion comes as its Wolfsburg, Germany-based parent embarks on a decentralisation drive aimed at handing responsibility for managing different global regions to its various brands.
Skoda's vehicle sales in India rose 30 per cent in 2017, powered by demand for Skoda Rapid cars as well as Kodiaq SUVs.
VW, however, has lagged rivals including Ford and Toyota in India despite growing sales marginally last fiscal year.
"This year's sales figures show that customers are very excited about our models ... It is also true, however, that the Volkswagen group has struggled in recent years to achieve its growth targets in India," Skoda Chief Executive Bernhard Maier told reporters.
Its new cars will use an Indian version of Volkswagen's MQB A0 vehicle platform, which will adhere to stricter emission and safety standards that are expected to come into force in 2020.
Some 90 per cent of each new Skoda vehicle will be produced locally, Mr Maier said, adding that the Czech brand will also explore the possibility of exporting Indian-made cars.
"We think VW group may focus on technology and electric cars and try to hold on to their market share in developed markets, while Skoda may become the front runner for mass products in emerging markets," said Puneet Gupta, associate director of automotive forecasting at research firm IHS Markit.
Though Skoda and India's Tata Motors scrapped a proposed partnership last August to develop cars for emerging markets, the company remains open to tie-ups, Mr Maier said. Skoda is not currently in talks with other parties, he added.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Transport & Logistics
Hyundai Motor plans to add hybrids to US plant within current investment
Boeing cargo plane lands in Istanbul without front landing gear, no casualties
Uber shares tumble on surprise net loss, weak second-quarter forecast
New law increases control of ownership, management of critical transport firms in Singapore
Premium for big car COEs tops S$105,000 while that for mainstream cars hovers below S$95,000
Toyota sees 20% full-year profit decline after blockbuster Q4