Skoda India set to enter pre-owned car biz

Foray into used car business will help its own cars' sales through exchange programmes

Buyers will have more options while purchasing a second-hand premium car from the company itself, in line with luxury car makers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, as Skoda Auto India is all set to enter the used car segment in India.

"We are looking at the pre-owned car segment. This year, we may have a few pilots starting with Mumbai and Delhi," Skoda Auto India director, sales & marketing, Ashutosh

Dixit said, during an interaction here today. This foray into the used car business will help its own cars sales through exchange programmes, he noted.

It should be noted that German auto major Volkswagen entered the pre-owned car business in 2013 by bringing in their popular franchise Das WeltAuto to India. Skoda Auto India, which is also a part of the Volkswagen Group, is now separately planning to foray into the used car business.

"There should be pilots this year. The stategies and other things are to be worked out. Branding may or may not be Das WeltAuto. These are to be decided," Dixit added.

Skoda had sold about 15,500 units during 2014 and is was aiming at 17,000-17,500 in 2015. he company has three sedans and one SUV in its product portfolio with entry price point of around Rs 7.5 lakh (ex showroom Delhi) and prices going upto Rs 22-23 lakhs.

Of all the four models, Rapid is the biggest volume driver for Skoda Auto India contributing about 60 to 70 per cent of its total sales in India.