Skoda's Niche Cars Like Karoq SUV, Octavia RS 245 Set To Debut In India Next Year
Skoda India is preparing to bring its niche offerings to the market. The company is eyeing to bring the Karoq SUV as a CBU completely built unit. The move was confirmed by Zac Hollis Director Sales Service and Marketing Skoda India in a recent interview.
Amidst the dip in automobile sales being experienced in the country, Skoda India is preparing to bring its niche offerings to the market. The Czech automobile manufacturer¡¯s global SUV - Skoda Karoq, has now been confirmed to hit the Indian shores in April 2020.
The move was confirmed by Zac Hollis, Director, Sales, Service and Marketing, Skoda India in a recent interview. Focusing on the impact expected from the mid-size SUV in India, Hollis said, ¡°From a product portfolio, 2020 is a year of consolidation. We are bringing lots of niche products in India, like the Skoda Karoq in April 2020¡±.
Interestingly, the company is eyeing to bring the Karoq SUV as a CBU (completely built unit). That, however, will probably see the company limiting the number of units to 2,500 passenger vehicles a year, citing the new vehicle import norms.
As for the car itself, the Karoq is expected to come with a BS6-compliant 1.5-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine that will be able to churn out 150 hp of power. This will be coupled to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In its global markets, the company also sells a 1.0-litre, TSI three-cylinder unit that delivers 115 hp power. Skoda might also aim to bring a diesel option as and when the Karoq arrives in India.
The 2020 plan
Hollis specified the sales target for Skoda in the Indian market for the oncoming year. As per him the firm is targeting to at least match the sales number of 2019, which is nearing 15,000 in total. The strategy is to use the niche products like Koraq and the Octavia RS 245, which is also slated for a 2020 launch, to ¡°sell around 15,000 cars¡± in 2020 in India.
The fact that the company will be bringing its global products as CBUs will help in propagating the agenda. With this strategy, Skoda will be able to quickly introduce the Koraq as well as the Octavia RS 245 in India. In addition, the plan will also save on the costs for local homologation of these vehicles for the company.
