The local unit of Europe's biggest automaker has cut costs to about $700 million from $1 billion for a platform it is developing to build EVs
Czech carmaker Skoda plans to bring more of its global nameplates into the Indian market as it looks to cater to a diverse set of customers, according to a senior company executive. The company, which now sells products in India ranging from over Rs 7 lakh to upwards of Rs 40 lakh, however, has no immediate plans to introduce electric cars in the country. "For the next year, the basic portfolio, which is the locally produced cars, remains the same. However, to excite the market, as we did with Octavia this year, we are also planning to get some more global, iconic cars into India next year," Skoda Auto India Brand Director Ashish Gupta told PTI in an interaction. He, however, did not disclose the names of the models the company is looking to import into the country next year. Skoda currently sells locally-produced models like Kylaq, Kushaq and Slavia and imported ones like Octavia and Kodiaq in the Indian market. The company, which is witnessing its strongest-ever year in India, .
Earlier in February 2024, Volkswagen and JSW Group were in talks to form a joint venture for EV manufacturing in India. The discussions have now resumed after VW's stalled pact with M&M
Volkswagen India has hired external experts to review systems and processes, Skoda Auto VW India chief Piyush Arora said in a September 8 employee memo
In an internal memo, Volkswagen India chief said the group is committed to India, with plans to invest in new technologies and manufacturing despite shifting markets and rising competition
Chief Executive Oliver Blume hoped for a quick solution "because we need to take decisions right now for localising our business there," he said
European automakers are up against stiff competition from China in the quest to bring affordable EVs to the market.
The National Commission in A1 Fauz International vs Audi India & Another held that the airbags failed to deploy not due to manufacturing defect, but because the truck did not have rear protection
European mass market automotive brands Renault, Volkswagen, and Skoda continue to struggle to enhance presence in the Indian market, witnessing sales decline in the last three financial years, industry data showed. According to data by JATO Dynamics, a leading provider of data and analytics to the global automotive industry, Renault saw the biggest sales dip in India to 37,900 units in 2024-2025 from 45,439 units in 2023-2024, and 78,926 units in 2022-2023. Similarly, Skoda's sales in India in 2024-2025 were at 44,866 units, marginally higher from 44,522 units in 2023-2024, but down from 52,269 units in 2022-2023. On the other hand, the Volkswagen brand posted sales of 42,230 units in 2024-25, down from 43,197 units in 2023-2024. The brand had clocked sales of 41,263 units in 2022-2023. "Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen faced several headwinds in India despite their tenure," JATO Dynamics India President Ravi G Bhatia told PTI. Explaining why these brands have struggled in India, he
Ashish Gupta and Nitin Kohli appointed brand directors at Skoda and Volkswagen as SAVWIPL aligns leadership strategy with local market understanding
The brand's India strategy remains focused on selective participation in segments where it can use its global resources
Trump's 25 per cent auto tariffs will cover more than $460 billion worth of imports of vehicles and auto parts imports annually
In 2023, exports accounted for 30 per cent of SAVWIPL's total production, with a 38 per cent Y-o-Y growth. The company shipped 44,248 units in 2023
Other penalised members of the cartel included Toyota , Mitsubishi, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, GM, Suzuki and Volvo
Samsung was ordered to pay 44.6 billion rupees ($520 million), consisting of unpaid taxes and a penalty of 100%
India's highest-ever demand for back taxes related to import duties came after scrutiny of 12 years of Volkswagen shipments and has rekindled foreign investors' fears
Last week, Volkswagen forecast another challenging year of ramping up EV sales, cutting costs and navigating trade tensions amid fierce competition with cheaper and faster rivals in China
Porsche's parent group Volkswagen is also in the midst of a restructuring and cost-cutting drive to streamline its finances in the face of cheaper rivals encroaching on Europe from China
Detroit's automakers lobbied for such an exemption for weeks, and praised Trump's announcement that they would receive temporary relief
India says Volkswagen used a clandestine scheme to import auto parts in separate shipments, to evade detection and cut taxes, instead of declaring items as "completely knocked down"