Skoda to lead Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 project

The Volkswagen Group has announced India 2.0 project – a long term project to strengthen its position in the Indian market. At the same time, Skoda Auto has been made in charge of this project, where it will develop strategic products in India, both for Volkswagen and Skoda.

With the India 2.0 project, Skoda will take over responsibility for the heavily localised MQB-A0 platform, called MQB-A0-IN. The new platform will spawn India specific volume models for Skoda and Volkswagen brands. The introduction of the first Skoda model based on this new platform is scheduled for 2020.

All models designed and produced locally in India in the future will be based on this upcoming MQB-A0-IN architecture, which, claims VW, fulfils the stricter legal requirements for India that’s to come into force in 2020. The project will be headed by the Managing Director of Skoda Auto India, Gurpratap Boparai.

‘Volkswagen Group has tasked us with this responsibility, thereby highlighting the level of trust that Volkswagen Group’s management places in the expertise of the Skoda team. We are firmly convinced that – after one and a half years of intensive work – together with Volkswagen we now have a suitable approach to bring the right vehicles into the Indian market at the right time. We will present the first model built on the new MQB-A0-IN platform as early as 2020,’ said Skoda CEO, Bernhard Maier on this development.

While there has been no confirmation on what segment will the first MQB-A0-IN model belong to, rumours suggest that Skoda is keen on getting a slice of the pie from the booming compact SUV space. Therefore, a potential rivalry with the Hyundai Creta is quite likely. Replacements for the aging Polo/Ameo and Vento/Rapid will arrive thereafter.