SKODA

BRAND WANTS TO EXPLORE THE INDIAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN MARKET WITH SMALL AND MODERN MODELS, BUT CHEAP
Skoda is evaluating how to introduce itself to countries such as India or the huge market in South America, with a line of subcompact models specially developed for these markets, with an economic price, but with modern technology and manufacturing , a decision that will be taken throughout this year of 2018.The Czech brand has the approval of the Volkswagen Group - which is who gives permission to any movement of its brands - since Skoda officials have defined that they will develop a platform for this new line of subcompact models, meeting the quality standards of Skoda, but at the same time offering prices according to the status of a population without great resources, even lower than in the Eastern European countries.That is, prices as competitive as those offered by TATA, Maruti Suzuki, Datsun and Dacia, which are the stars in India, one of the largest markets in the world. And fighting in a segment like that of small cars is not an easy task. Currently Skoda is present in the Indian market with Octavia, Superb and Kodiak - all developed on the MQB platform, which is very expensive for this market - and only Rapid with the old platform PQ25.The idea of ​​the Czech brand is to introduce a model of the size of the Fabia and a small SUV based on the new Volkswagen T-Cross - advanced by Vision X Concept - that will debut in Europe during 2018 or early 2019. But given that this modular architecture is very expensive, the idea is to use a special version of MQB-A, with modifications to lower production costs of the models for the segment B of India.Skoda has held discussions with the largest manufacturer on the Indian market for about a year. The Czechs and TATA did not enter into an agreement to use the Indian Modular Advanced Platform (AMP), an understanding that was not given because the VW Group was unwilling to take the full investment as TATA required, as they would already enter the structure, which made Skoda opt for the use of the platform MQB-A0 of the new Volkswagen Polo, but modified to make it cheaper.The truth is that it will be a dream come true for the German mother of Wolfsburg. For years, Volkswagen considered selling its models in India with a new low-cost brand, but this never materialized. So if the idea of ​​Skoda works, we can also see models of Volkswagen in this market.If the strategy of Skoda and Volkswagen materializes, the goal is more than ambitious: to manufacture more than 300,000 cars a year in India - which will also be exported to South American countries - and double that amount in China to achieve the goal of production scheduled for 2025 with a volume of two million units, 800,000 more than the current figures, in addition to covering a total of 18 new markets, raising to 120 where Skoda is present. In fact, operations have started in Singapore and in 2019 the Czechs will be in South Africa.

Autonews