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Tag: skoda

  • Volkswagen Halts India EV Investments as It Seeks JSW Deal

    Volkswagen Halts India EV Investments as It Seeks JSW Deal

    Volkswagen AG has halted investments in an electric-vehicle program for India until it gains clarity on a potential partnership with billionaire Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Group. The pause follows an announcement last month by both companies that they are exploring a venture to develop, build and market passenger vehicles in India.

    Volkswagen has finished design work using a low-cost EV architecture originally developed for China, positioning it to scale quickly once talks conclude. However, the German group is withholding additional capital until the partners establish a firmer business plan.

    The investment hold comes amid a worldwide cost-cutting drive that aims to trim group investments by about 15% and cut tens of thousands of jobs. VW had already reduced the costs of developing EVs in India by a third last year as it searched for a partner, and it currently sells no battery-powered cars in the country under either its namesake or Skoda brands.

    Global Headwinds Squeeze Indian Budgets

    Spending cuts at headquarters are dictating the local timetable. Volkswagen is trimming its worldwide capital investments by roughly 15 per cent and eliminating tens of thousands of jobs as it grapples with weak deliveries across Europe and aggressive competition from Chinese producers.

    Those international pressures prompted management to slash its projected Indian EV development budget by a third last year while searching for a local equity partner. The spending freeze now leaves the automaker without an electric passenger vehicle on sale in India under either the Volkswagen badge or Skoda.

    Rivals Lock Down Showroom Space

    The delay hands an open field to domestic incumbents and new Asian competitors. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. And Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Dominate existing electric vehicle deliveries, while JSW’s other partner SAIC Motor Corp. Pushes its MG brand across Indian dealerships alongside entries from BYD Co., VinFast and Tesla Inc.

    Stepping back from direct capital spending shifts risk directly onto Volkswagen’s commercial footprint in South Asia. India registered more than 35,000 electric passenger cars in September, nearly doubling sales from the same month a year earlier, and stricter national fuel-efficiency standards make zero-emission models mandatory to protect traditional engine sales.

    Two Years of Search for a Local Ally

    Volkswagen and JSW disclosed last month that they are assessing an alliance to develop, manufacture and sell passenger vehicles in India as well as for export markets. The planned scope spans battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, traditional hybrids and internal-combustion engines.

    Finding a local partner has proved difficult for the German group. Management spent almost two years scouting an Indian manufacturer to split development costs after earlier partnership discussions with Mahindra broke down.

    Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Currently generates only a marginal share of national car registrations. Resolving the partnership structure with JSW is the sole mechanism the German automaker has left to finance a competitive local electric platform before regulatory penalties tighten.

  • Skoda Celebrates 25 Years In India With Limited Edition Octavia Rs Launch

    Skoda Celebrates 25 Years In India With Limited Edition Octavia Rs Launch

    Skoda Auto India is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the launch of the highly-anticipated Skoda Octavia RS. The performance saloon will be available in limited quantities and will be brought to the Indian market through the Completely Built-Up (CBU) route. The vehicle is priced at Rs 49.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and has been much sought after by Indian auto-enthusiasts, building on its legacy since its debut in 2004.

    The Launch Statement

    Ashish Gupta, Brand Director of Skoda Auto India, expressed his excitement at the launch of the Octavia RS. He emphasized the overwhelming response the car has received and its ability to ignite the passion of driving enthusiasts across India. As Skoda celebrates 25 successful years in India, its commitment to delivering world-class cars is stronger than ever, and the RS badge stands as a testament to this. Gupta further expressed excitement to welcome a new generation of enthusiasts into the Skoda family, building on the strong legacy that defines the brand.

    Performance Features of Skoda Octavia RS

    Beneath the hood, the Octavia RS boasts a 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol engine that delivers peak power output of 265 Hp and max torque of 370 Nm. This power is delivered to the wheels through a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in a mere 6.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited at 250 kmph.

    Design Features of Skoda Octavia RS

    The Octavia RS embodies Skoda’s bold design aesthetics, featuring full LED Matrix headlights, LED tail lamps with dynamic indicators, and sleek black styling elements. With its 19-inch Elias anthracite alloy wheels and low-profile 225/40 R19 sports tyres, the car exudes an unmistakably sporty, aggressive stance. The Octavia RS combines sleek proportions with practicality, offering segment-leading boot capacity and five vibrant colour options.

    Interior Features of Skoda Octavia RS

    The interior of the Octavia RS strikes a harmonious balance between sportiness and luxury. It features Suedia/Leather upholstery with red contrast stitching, sports front seats with advanced adjustability, heating, and massage functions along with ambient lighting. Customers will also benefit from three-zone climate control, wireless charging, and a state-of-the-art infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

    Safety Features of Skoda Octavia RS

    The Octavia RS is equipped with state-of-the-art safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Assist, and Intelligent Park Assist. The car also includes 10 airbags, a 360-degree Area View camera, ISOFIX child seat mounts, a Head-Up Display, and advanced driving stability systems.

    Warranty

    In line with all Skoda models, the Octavia RS comes with an industry-leading ownership package, including a 4-year/100,000 km warranty.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the price of the Skoda Octavia RS?
    The Skoda Octavia RS is priced at Rs 49.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

    What is the top speed of the Skoda Octavia RS?
    The top speed of the Skoda Octavia RS is electronically limited at 250 kmph.

    What safety features does the Skoda Octavia RS offer?
    The Octavia RS comes equipped with state-of-the-art safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Assist, and Intelligent Park Assist, among others.

  • Czech’s top automaker Skoda to complete Vietnam factory this quarter

    Czech’s top automaker Skoda to complete Vietnam factory this quarter

    Czech’s biggest automaker Skoda is set to complete its $500 million factory in northern Vietnam, its first in Southeast Asia, by the end of March.

    The company plans to launch two locally assembled models this year after the completion of the plant, which it develops with Thanh Cong – a local distributor of Hyundai cars, according to the Vietnam Government Portal.

    The plant, located in the northern province of Quang Ninh, has a capacity of 120,000 vehicles a year.

    Its chairman Klaus Zellmer told Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Sunday that the Vietnam factory is an important milestone in the company’s expansion strategy in Southeast Asia.

    The PM requested the company to accelerate its research and development of electric vehicles in the country and increase its localization rates as part of a technology transfer effort.

    He said that the Vietnamese government would offer incentives to investors who meet requirements related to technology transfer, increasing scientific and technological content, and helping Vietnamese businesses participate deeper the supply chain.

    Skoda chairman Klaus Zellmer affirmed the company’s commitment to long-term investment in Vietnam.

    He promised to pump up the current localization rate of 40%.

    He considers Vietnam a strategic gateway to access the rest of the Southeast Asian market. The country has potential to become a production and export hub for Skoda vehicles to other countries.

    He expressed hope that the Vietnamese government would continue to support and provide favorable policies for businesses.

    Skoda said earlier that it saw the region’s potential when it started exporting completely-built units to Vietnam in 2023.

    “We realized Skoda has a future in Vietnam and Asia,” chief marketing officer Vu Manh Cuong said previously in an interview.

    He added: “It takes time to show [cars] to the customer, for people to try the product, feel it out.”

  • Czech Skoda cars launched in Vietnam

    Czech Skoda cars launched in Vietnam

    Automobile distributor Thanh Cong launched two Skoda models with prices from VND1-1.4 billion (US$42,300-59,300) on Saturday.

    Before the Thanh Cong Viet Hung automobile plant in northern Quang NinhAutomobile distributor Thanh Cong launched two Skoda models with prices from VND1-1.4 billion (US$42,300-59,300) on Saturday.
    Before the Thanh Cong Viet Hung automobile plant in northern Quang Ninh Province comes into operation, Skoda cars will be imported from Europe.

    The imported models are the C-segment SUV branded Karoq priced at VND1-1.09 billion, and the D-segment SUV branded Kodiaq priced at VND1.19-1.41 billion.

    Then Thanh Cong will distribute C and D-segment sedans.

    After 2025, electric car models such as Enyaq iV and Vision 7S will be distributed in Vietnam.

    Covering an area of 36.5 hectares and boasting a capacity of some 120,000 vehicles per year, the Skoda automobile plant in Quang Ninh will assemble B-segment cars. This is the first Skoda factory in Southeast Asia.

    Skoda will also build a distribution system with four large dealers in four major cities first, and open 30 more dealers across Vietnam in the next five years.

    Currently, Thanh Cong distributes Hyundai, Nissan and Skoda cars. Province comes into operation, Skoda cars will be imported from Europe.

    The imported models are the C-segment SUV branded Karoq priced at VND1-1.09 billion, and the D-segment SUV branded Kodiaq priced at VND1.19-1.41 billion.

    Then Thanh Cong will distribute C and D-segment sedans.

     

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  • Czech Skoda cars available in Vietnam this September

    Czech Skoda cars available in Vietnam this September

    Skoda cars have been imported into Vietnam from the Czech Republic and will go on sale here in September, according to Skoda’s Vietnamese partner TC Motor.

    The imported models include the CUV Karoq in the C-segment and the SUV Kodiaq in the D-segment, which will compete with Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8, and Toyota Fortuner, said TC Motor, a distributor and assembler of South Korean Hyundai vehicles.

    The 7-seat Kodiaq has gasoline and diesel engine versions and costs some US$52,870 on the European market.

    The Karoq also includes gasoline and diesel engine versions and has a list price of some $31,390 in Germany and around $33,000 in China.

    TC Motor will sell Skoda cars imported from Europe and then vehicles assembled in Vietnam.

    In late February Skoda and TC Motor began building a plant with an annual capacity of 120,000 Skoda cars at Viet Hung Industrial Park in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

    Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country in which Skoda has put up a factory, from which it also plans to export vehicles to other countries in the region.

    Skoda has three plants in the Czech Republic and facilities in China, Russia, Slovakia, India and Ukraine.
    The company sold 731,300 vehicles in some 100 markets around the world, with Germany, the Czech Republic, India, the UK, and Poland being the biggest.

    In 2021, it sold nearly 900,000 cars in the markets with Germany and Russia being the biggest.

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  • Skoda cars to be sold in Vietnam from May

    Skoda cars to be sold in Vietnam from May

    Skoda cars are expected to be imported from the Czech Republic and sold from May before being assembled there, according to Skoda Vietnam sources.

    In the C-segment, CUV Karoq, one of the company’s bestselling models, will compete with the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, and others.

    In the D-segment, the SUV Kodiaq will go up against the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8, and Toyota Fortuner.

    In late February Skoda and its Vietnamese partner TC Motor, a distributor and assembler of South Korean Hyundai vehicles, began building a plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

    Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country in which Skoda will put up a factory and plans to export vehicles to other countries in the region.

    Skoda makes 11 models, with the Octavia being its bestseller. Various models, including B-segment sedan Slavia are expected to be sold in the country from late 2024.

    Last year the company sold 731,300 vehicles in some 100 markets worldwide, with Germany, the Czech Republic, India, the UK, and Poland being the biggest.

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  • Slovakia’s Inobat Eyes Electric Vehicle Battery Plant In Serbia

    Slovakia’s Inobat Eyes Electric Vehicle Battery Plant In Serbia

    Slovakian battery maker InoBat said on Monday it has signed declarations of intent with the Serbian government to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in the Balkan country with a capacity of up to 32 gigawatt hours (GWh).

    The plant would open with an initial capacity of 4 GWh in 2025.

    The Serbian government has agreed to provide funding of up to 419 million euros ($431 million) including grants and tax incentives to support the project, InoBat said.

    Although the agreement is not final, a source familiar with the matter said it is close to being so.

    InoBat has said it wants to build a gigafactory in western Europe and one in eastern Europe.

    Last month InoBat said it had signed a declaration of intent with Spain’s government to build a gigafactory in Valladolid. The declaration is not a finalised agreement and other locations, including the United Kingdom, remain under consideration for InoBat’s western European factory.

    Some European battery startups have struggled to raise billions for huge gigafactories, while others like InoBat are focused on expanding slowly as they land customers contracts.

    InoBat will open a 45 megawatt-hour (MWh) pilot line in Bratislava early next year to produce high-performance batteries for customers to test and says it has signed customer agreements, including with German air taxi developer Lilium worth 500 million euros by 2030.

    The company aims to build battery production capacity in 4 GWh increments starting in 2025 – costing around 350 million euros each – as contracts are signed.

    InoBat also plans a research & development facility in Indiana, which could expand into a gigafactory, in a joint venture with fintech company Ideanomics.

    Ideanomics is an investor in InoBat, as is mining group Rio Tinto.

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  • Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo Edition To Be Launched Soon

    Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo Edition To Be Launched Soon

    Skoda Auto India will soon introduce a Monte Carlo edition of its compact sedan, the Slavia. In a recent interaction with car&bike, Petr Šolc, Director – Sales & Marketing, Skoda Auto India said that the company wants its top-selling models Slavia and Kushaq to be well-established in the Indian market. And Skoda feels that one way to ensure that would be by introducing special edition models. While it has already launched the Kushaq Monte Carlo and the first-anniversary edition of the compact SUV, next the carmaker plans to introduce the Slavia Monte Carlo in India.

    Talking about the need for expanding the model line-up Šolc said, “We are going step by step. Of course, we are happy that we have introduced the Monte Carlo version of the Kushaq and we are looking if would it make sense perhaps for us to bring more of the special editions. Like a Monte Carlo on the Kushaq, but also on the Slavia. This is definitely also our ultimate goal to ensure that both these products are well established in the market.”

    The Skoda Slavia compact sedan, along with the Kushaq, has played a major role in the huge turnaround that the brand has witnessed in India. The compact sedan already accounts for average monthly sales of around 2000 units and the introduction of a top-of-the-line Monte Carlo trim is only going to add to the car’s volumes.

    Skoda’s Monte Carlo edition cars are designed to pay homage to the brand’s racing pedigree. Like the other Monte Carlo models, which we have seen in the Indian market so far, the Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo will also come in a special red exterior paint job with blacked-out accents. The car is also expected to get all-black wheels with red calipers, a blacked-out roof and the Monte Carlo badge. The cabin too will get an all-black treatment with red accents and possibly some add-on features like a bigger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

    We expect the Monte Carlo edition to be based on the top-end Style variant of the car, and it will be offered with both the manual and automatic variants of the 1.0-litre TSI and the 1.5-litre TSI engine option. Expect at least a premium of Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 over the asking price of the Style variants of the Slavia for the Monte Carlo trims.

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  • TC Motor to sell Skoda cars from next year

    TC Motor to sell Skoda cars from next year

    TC Motor, a distributor and assembler of South Korean Hyundai vehicles in Vietnam, will start selling the popular Czech Skoda cars next year.

    Under a deal it signed with Skoda Auto in Hanoi on Oct. 7, TC will start by distributing imported Skoda cars first before assembling them.

    The two firms plan to build a plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh, with the first vehicles expected to roll out of it late next year at the earliest.

    Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country where Skoda will build a factory. It plans to export vehicles assembled in Vietnam to other countries in the region.

    Skoda makes 11 models, with the Octavia being its bestseller, but the two companies have not revealed which model will be sold first in Vietnam.

    Last year, the Czech firm sold nearly 900,000 vehicles in some 100 markets around the world, with Germany and Russia being the biggest.

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  • Skoda Auto India’s Sales & Service Network Crosses 205 Outlets

    Skoda Auto India’s Sales & Service Network Crosses 205 Outlets

    Skoda Auto India has announced expanding its total customer touchpoints to over 205 outlets, across 123 cities. The carmaker says that it has 175 touchpoints in India in December 2021, and in the last six months the company has added more than 30 outlets. However, we must tell you that these are not just the larger dealerships, but rather also include Skoda’s low-cost sales and service touchpoints, which the company has been launching in tier 2 and tier 3 cities to have a wider network. Compared to a traditional dealership, these smaller outlets are 2- or 3-car showrooms with 2-bay workshops.

    Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India said, “By rapidly increasing our customer touchpoints and expanding our network, we have the largest ever-presence of the Skoda brand in India. Not only have we expanded in quantity but have also focused on quality with our revolutionary digitalised showrooms.”

    In December 2021, Skoda had around 175 touchpoints in India, across 117 cities, and the company had set a target to reach 225 outlets by the end of 2022. However, given the number of new launches like – Skoda Slavia, Kodiaq and Kushaq Monte Carlo, the company ramped up its expansion plans, and now it is targeting 250 touchpoints by the end of this year. The company aims to add over 10 touchpoints in each of the four zones across India.

    Skoda wants to establish its presence in both metro and non-metro centres, covering important market clusters. In fact, Skoda will soon be opening its first touchpoints in Nagaland at Dimapur, and at Dibrugarh in Assam. In addition to these, the company will be entering or adding centres in other regions like Gandhidham and Morbi, in Gujarat, Ambala in Haryana, Amritsar in Punjab, Warangal in Telangana, Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, Haldwani in Uttarakhand and Tirur is Kerala.

  • Skoda Slavia To Get Smaller Touchscreen In Equipment List Reshuffle

    Skoda Slavia To Get Smaller Touchscreen In Equipment List Reshuffle

    Skoda is set to give the Slavia an update in the coming weeks. As per some dealers we spoke to, Skoda is set to replace the 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the higher variants of the Slavia. The 10-inch head unit is set to be replaced by a smaller 8.0-inch unit said to be sourced from Panasonic. While we have not heard back from Skoda officially, the update could be due to the ongoing semi-conductor shortages affecting the automotive industry.

    Additionally, some reports suggest that the top variants are also expected to miss out on wireless charging as well and it remains to be seen if the new unit will support wireless smartphone connectivity. Aside from the equipment update, the Slavia is also set to receive its first price hike next month with the quantum expected to be up to Rs 50,000. The Slavia was launched at introductory prices in India with the hike signifying an end to the introductory pricing period.

    The Slavia has had a strong start in India for Skoda with over 14,000 bookings having been clocked since its launch in late February. The company also reported seeing stronger than anticipated demand for the 1.5 TSI model which has accounted for about 30 percent of overall bookings.

    Skoda’s compact sedan was launched in India in late February 2022 with prices currently ranging from Rs 10.69 lakh to Rs 16.19 lakh (ex-showroom). There are two engine options on offer – a 114 bhp 1.0 TSI unit that is the mainstay of the range and the more powerful 148 bhp 1.5 TSI mill available only in the fully loaded model. Both units come with manual and automatic (DSG for the 1.5 TSI) gearbox options.

    The Slavia goes up against the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Maruti Ci

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  • Volkswagen’s Skoda Auto Reports 12.6% Drop In 2021 Global Deliveries To 878,200 Cars

    Volkswagen’s Skoda Auto Reports 12.6% Drop In 2021 Global Deliveries To 878,200 Cars

    Volkswagen’s Skoda Auto said on Tuesday its global deliveries dropped 12.6% year-on-year in 2021 to 878,200 cars as the industry suffered from a semiconductor shortage and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Among its regional markets, the Czech carm

  • Skoda to build plant in Vietnam

    Skoda to build plant in Vietnam

    Czech automaker Skoda is set to build a plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh and expects to begin production and exports of vehicles by 2023.
    Leaders of the company have worked with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the plan of building the factory.

    Martin Jahn, a director of Skoda Auto, said the Vietnamese car market is relatively small but very promising.

    “The political and trade ties between the two countries represent extensive opportunities for cooperation.”

    There are 44 Czech projects in Vietnam with a total investment of $91 million, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

    Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot are two European carmakers with plants in Vietnam, while BMW’s factory is expected to be completed this year.

    Skoda manufactured around 900,000 cars last year and sold nearly half in Western Europe.

    Established in 1925, it is a subsidiary of German auto giant Volkswagen.

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  • Skoda to build plant in Vietnam

    Skoda to build plant in Vietnam

    Czech automaker Skoda is set to build a plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh and expects to begin production and exports of vehicles by 2023. Leaders of the company have worked with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the plan of building the factory.

    Martin Jahn, a director of Skoda Auto, said the Vietnamese car market is relatively small but very promising.

    “The political and trade ties between the two countries represent extensive opportunities for cooperation.”

    There are 44 Czech projects in Vietnam with a total investment of $91 million, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot are two European carmakers with plants in Vietnam, while BMW’s factory is expected to be completed this year.

    Skoda manufactured around 900,000 cars last year and sold nearly half in Western Europe.

    Established in 1925, it is a subsidiary of German auto giant Volkswagen.

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  • Volkswagen’s CEO To Step Aside At Skoda

    Volkswagen’s CEO To Step Aside At Skoda

    Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess is stepping down as head of the supervisory boards at subsidiaries Seat and Skoda to focus on building up a stronger software-development team, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

    Volkswagen declined to comment.

    Handelsblatt had reported the news earlier.

    At Seat, Diess would be succeeded by current technology head Thomas Schmall and at Skoda by Murat Aksel, head of procurement on the Volkswagen board, the source added.

    Volkswagen has been heavily focused on regaining lost ground in the fast-growing field of software-heavy electric cars, where United States and Chinese manufacturers are seen as having a lead.