Skoda Auto Board Member of Sales and Marketing, Martin Jahn, announced at a Vietnam that Skoda plans to launch an affordable electric vehicle in India.
Skoda Auto India is playing a pivotal role in its operations in Vietnam, with plans to supply upcoming vehicles not only to Vietnam but also to future markets within the ASEAN region. In addition to the recently introduced Kodiaq and Karoq SUVs, Skoda has ambitious plans to introduce a range of vehicles, including the Superb, Slavia, Octavia sedans, Kushaq SUV, and Enyaq eSUV, in these markets. During a recent event, a senior Skoda official hinted at the strategic advantage of introducing an affordable electric vehicle (EV) in India. This affordable EV is likely to be an eSUV, given the rising popularity and demand for such vehicles in India.
Martin Jahn, Skoda Auto board member for Sales and Marketing, announced that the company plans to launch the Enyaq premium EV in India, followed by an affordable eSUV. When Skoda mentions “affordable,” they are likely referring to a vehicle priced below Rs. 15 lakhs, which would make it competitive with other popular EVs in India, such as the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV400, and the upcoming Citroen eC3 Aircross. Skoda is actively exploring potential partnerships to achieve this goal. One possibility is to localize a modified version of Volkswagen’s MEB platform, which is well-known for its electric vehicles. Alternatively, Skoda may consider collaborating with a local OEM to develop a completely new electric platform.
The expected price range for the new Skoda affordable EV is between USD 15,000 and USD 20,000, as revealed by Martin Jahn. At current conversion rates, this translates to approximately Rs. 12.5 lakhs to Rs. 16.6 lakhs. Mahindra appears to be a potential partner for Skoda, considering their previous collaborations, including deals related to VW’s MEB platform and powertrains. Skoda may also explore a similar setup to Mahindra’s INGLO platform for its EV.
In summary, Skoda Auto India is actively planning to introduce a range of vehicles, including affordable electric SUVs, in the Indian market and potentially other ASEAN countries. These plans align with the growing demand for electric vehicles in India and the company’s strategic vision for the region.
It is possible Skoda could electrify its existing line-up in India – Kushaq and Slavia as both the cars are based on MQB A0 IN Platform. They could redesign the structure and other things, and fit the SUV with a battery pack between 40 – 45 kWh that could give range around 500 KMs.