PM Modi Flags Off Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun E20 Fuel Compliant Variants

The Volkswagen Taigun and the Skoda Kushaq were part of the Alternative Fuels Based Vehicles Rally, which was flagged off in Bengaluru on February 6, 2023, by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Alternative Fuels Based Vehicles Rally took place in conjunction with the launch of India's G20 Presidency flagship event, India Energy Week (IEW), hosted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). The VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq's engines are now E20 fuel compliant. Ee20 is essentially 20% ethanol-blended gasoline, which aids in reducing an ICE vehicle's tailpipe emissions. The SUV siblings have received a 5-star Global NCAP rating for the safety of both adult and child occupants, making them the safest vehicles manufactured in India.

Commenting on the occasion, Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, ‘Our “Made in India” vehicles – the SKODA KUSHAQ and Volkswagen TAIGUN were designed in anticipation of the changing mobility dynamics in India and are E20 compliant. We are aligned with the vision of E20 compliance as envisaged by the Government of India and committed towards decarbonised mobility. We will continue to focus towards sustainable mobility solutions, including biofuels as India advances towards its goal of leading the world toward a clean energy transition.’

Also Read: Skoda Kushaq: The New Gold Standard in Passenger Safety

‘The successful transformation of the automotive sector into low-emission mobility requires close cooperation between the government and industry. We are happy to partner with the Indian Government in its Net Zero mission. We are excited that SKODA KUSHAQ and Volkswagen TAIGUN have participated in this landmark rally and look forward to working with all stakeholders towards shaping a greener future for the nation,’ said Christian Cahn von Seelen, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Digital, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India.

The goal of SAVWIPL's sustainability initiatives is to become a carbon-neutral business by 2050, which aligns with the Volkswagen Group's global 'goTOzero' environmental mission statement. The Group's Aurangabad facility switched to 100 per cent ‘Green’ energy back in November 2022, far ahead of its 2025 target, and will reduce CO2 by about 48 per cent annually. One of the largest rooftop solar power plants is located at the Group's Pune facility, which provides close to 30 per cent of the facility's annual energy requirements.