INDIA 2.0 cars have set new benchmark in safety, says Solc
Just about a month after highlighting the importance of Indian market, Czech car maker Skoda Auto has said India will become an export hub for the company as it is set to commence exports of vehicle kits for assembly in Vietnam from next year.
The company, having reported a 125% year-on-year surge in its vehicle sales at 53,721 units in 2022, is also confident of double-digit growth this year.
Similarly, Volkswagen Group sales grew 85.48R% year-on-year at 1,01,270 units in the previous calendar year.
The Group is present through Skoda Auto, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini brands under Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWPIL).
“India is an absolutely important market as part of our regional strategy of Skoda Auto, and India will become an export hub for Skoda,” Petr Solc, Brand Director at Skoda Auto India, told Press Trust of India on 7 May 2023.
Volkswagen is already exporting vehicles from India to Mexico and South Africa while Skoda Auto is exporting to the Middle East and North Africa. “From next year, we will start exporting vehicle kits for assembly in Vietnam,” Solc said.
Export is already an important part and will continue to be an important part of the strategy for Skoda and Volkswagen, he underlined.
Noting that Skoda Auto India for the first time delivered more than 50,000 cars in the domestic market last year, he said “we would like to grow with the market or even faster and our ambition is to grow into double digits.”
Right after becoming India’s only auto manufacturer with an entire fleet of 5-star safe crash tested cars, Škoda Auto India said it will continue with its product offensive strategy through 2023.
The Škoda Slavia sedan has completed one successful year since introduction to India and later to other parts of the world. To mark the occasion, the company has introduced an all-new Anniversary Edition of the Slavia sedan – the car that scored the highest points in the latest Global NCAP crash tests.
Sitting with the Slavia at the top of the safety charts is the Kushaq SUV, a car that first achieved the feat of scoring 5-stars for both adult and child occupants in India. The SUV now gets a newer version called the Kushaq Edition. With the new additions, the Škoda range now caters to a wider set of customers with more offerings at multiple price points.
“Together with our no-compromise safety strategy, the cars stand out for their driving dynamics and design. Keeping our product range fresh and contemporary, in line with customer preferences, plays a pivotal role in our path towards growing the Škoda brand in 2023 and onwards.
“And these new product actions on the Kushaq and Slavia are a step in that direction, providing further value and choice to our customers and fans. We will be bringing new special editions and product refreshments to the market on a regular basis and continue with our growth momentum,” he said. fiinews.com
