Vw To Launch Octavia Next Year

Octavia's 1600cc petrol, 1900cc diesel and a brand new version (possibly a 1300cc) being developed for India are set to hit the road along with the Felicia which till recently was supposed to be the launch vehicle for the group.

Skoda, a part of the Volkswagen group, plans to launch the 1600cc version at a price of about Rs 6 lakh and the 1900cc diesel version at about Rs 7 lakh. The price of the new model being developed for India is, however, not yet known.

Interestingly, Octavia will be displayed for the first time at the next week's Paris motor show, and is slated to be launched in Skoda's domestic market, the Czech Republic, in mid-November this year.

"We have decided to use Octavia and Felicia as our launch vehicles for the Indian market which is slated for next year," Imran Hassan, the Skoda representative in India, told Business Standard.

Skoda does not plan to launch the 1800cc petrol version and the 1900cc turbo-charged diesel version of the Octavia in India.

"We are aware that the Indian consumer wants a good product at a reasonable price. We already have a great product for the Indian market and we should be able to price it at a low level," said Hassan.

Significantly, the two sides have reached a settlement on the level of investment and the equity participation in the venture and are now developing a supplier chain for the proposed venture.

About 50 leading auto component manufacturers visited the Volkswagen group facilities last week to discuss tie-ups with the German major.

This follows the visit of a team of the Volkswagen group's suppliers to New Delhi recently.

According to Hassan, once the supplier chain has been established, it should be a matter of time before the two sides sign on the dotted line.