The logo of Skoda.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Bengaluru: Skoda Auto, which completes 25 years in India this year, is taking a cautious, wait-and-watch approach towards electric mobility, even as it works to strengthen its overall product line-up in the country.
The Czech automaker sold close to 8,300 cars in India in October alone and has recorded 67,000 sales through November - its highest annual figures since entering the market.
“We have more than doubled our sales this year, over 2024. Today, we are ranked seventh in the market, from 11th last year. We have also expanded to 320 touchpoints across 180 cities, and will add another 8–10 more touchpoints this year, and add another five cities,” Skoda Auto India Brand Director Ashish Gupta said on Friday. He added that the company has sold 5,00,000 cars in India to date.
This year, Skoda introduced the Kylaq and the all-new Kodiaq, and recently rolled out the Octavia RS. The Octavia was the model that defined the brand’s entry into India over two decades ago.
“Our customers are always looking for new cars, and that’s also something we plan for next year. Meanwhile, we have product refreshes of the Slavia and Kushaq coming up, and are also looking to bring another batch of the Octavia RS. We also have a couple of other models lined up,” Gupta said, without sharing details.
Globally, Skoda is a major EV player. Six months ago, it launched the all-electric Elroq compact SUV in Europe, which it says has become the region’s best-selling EV. According to a statement by the company, 100,000 units of the Elroq have already been built. However, India presents a different challenge.
“We have a full EV portfolio worldwide. But as far as India is concerned… Even if we want to bring our EVs from Europe to India, the policy and regulations, and the price points at which we'll be compelled to sell them, won’t be necessarily affordable in this market. You also won't get high volumes,” Gupta told DH.
Skoda has been evaluating the launch of its premium electric SUV, the Enyaq, for two years. “If you bring this car into the country today, it would have to be sold in the price band of Rs 60–65 lakh. There’s not a large-enough market for us to bring that car,” Gupta noted, adding that the company is waiting for clarity around the new EV policy and FTA before finalising further plans.
“However, electric vehicles is a segment that any manufacturer who wishes to be relevant in India has to explore. That's our plan as well,” he further shared, but stressed that the country will remain a multi-powertrain market, with 92 per cent of buyers still choosing ICE, CNG, or hybrids. “The mistake most manufacturers made 5-6 years ago was to bet 100 per cent on e-mobility… One has to curate a multi-powertrain strategy.”
Meanwhile, Skoda inaugurated a new dealership - Karr Skoda - in JP Nagar, Bengaluru on Friday.