According to a report through PTI, Brand Manager Skoda Auto India, Zac Hollis, “When you look at the progression of our products, we have a lot of investments that have already been made in India 2. 0 products even before COVID-19 hit us. Now, COVID-19 has hit us in many tactics in terms of our investments in our projects. “
He added: “The first, we had machinery from certain markets and countries. The production line apparatus was delayed by COVID-19. The other scenario is that we have experts from Europe, who we want to help. expand the production lines of the MQB AO (platform) in India. So they couldn’t either. “
Hollis said the delays would replace the release schedule. “Despite this, we continue to meet our ‘India 2. 0’ release schedule. It’s a great achievement that we can do that in this scenario that we have. I’m very excited” to launch the first car in the middle of next year,” he said.
Skoda Auto unveiled its Vision IN, a medium-sized SUV specific to India on the MQB A0 IN platform, at the previous Auto Expo this year, which is expected to be introduced next year. The SUV will be followed through a medium-sized sedan. late next year, Hollis said, adding, “We will also bring Octavia’s fourth generation early next year. This is a brand new car. . . We will bring Kodiaq (SUV) with BS-VI engine early next year. “
Commenting on the effect of the pandemic on network expansion in India, Hollis said: “We plan to expand the corridor network and service network within India 2. 0, especially in Tier II and III cities. That’s slowed down a little bit, because of the pandemic. “
In more detail, he said: “Some things can be done through video conferencing, but it is very difficult for the network team to scale into the siteArray. We’ve had some challenges, but we’re pleased to say that this year we’ll be developing from 86 outlets now to a hundred (until the end of the year) and 130 through June next year. So our plan to expand the network is a little behind, but it continues. However, he said: “We still have to enter 50 new cities by 2020. We will have 150 outlets until the end of next year and two hundred until the following year. “
Previously, Skoda Auto India had set a goal of having two hundred outlets until the end of next year. The Volkswagen Group had announced an investment of one billion euros (around 7. 9 billion rupees) between 2019 and 2021 as a component of its most recent strategy for its business. presence in India, which will be led through the corporate of the Skoda Auto organization.
Commenting on the existing market site conditions, Hollis said the market spot was very optimistic at the moment and that the company expects a strong holiday period. “Obviously, there’s a repressed lawsuit. There would have been other people looking for non-public shipments and cars in April and May and they are still there, they are looking for cars because of the situation. where there was a repressed demand, ” he said.
In addition, Hollis said: “We also see a preference for non-public mobility. A preference for consumers to protect themselves, to remain in their circle of relatives and perhaps in India, they are not in a position to resume public transport, even if they are has reassured about disinfection, etc. “
In addition, other people are also “a little nervous about shared transport,” so the call is evident, especially in the entry-level car segment, he said. that sales in 2020 will be lower than last year when it sold 15,000 units.
With PTI inputs
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