New Delhi: Skoda Auto, which has been charged to lead India’s investment RS 8,000 Crore by Europe Auto Major Volkswagen, plans to produce electric cars in this country, but EV debut will be made even before going through the import route with the launch of Green SUV ENYAQ.
Skoda Auto Global Chairman Thomas Schaefer said that electricity mobility is the main focus area for companies globally, and India – through its policy incentives – will also be the main market for green vehicles.
The plan can see Indian subsidiaries – Skoda Auto Volkswagen India – has almost 30% of its local portfolio which is run on powertrain electricity at the end of this decade.
Although this will remain lower to the global ambition of the 50-70% green fleet it has in the same period, the company wants greater involvement in India by holding local manufacturing settings deeply rooted.
“If you don’t go to deep localization, it will never be feasible,” Schaefer told Toi, added that the company could indicate “to the factories”.
He said localization was very important to ensure affordability.
India’s EV plans by the VW Group came at the time of companies such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Korean Twins Hyundai-Kia wanted to increase green efforts and investment on a large scale.
Schaefer said while localization was important for the mass of sustainable and critical sales, the government initially had to allow the company to test the global market by reducing import duties.
“Electric cars cannot be punished.
If you believe that this is the future, then until the time until they are localized in India, you cannot punish them (with a higher task).
If not, you will stop the development and you stop movement on Market and you lose relationships with the whole world.
“Schaefer’s request for lower import duties on electric cars reflects the application made by the founder of Tesla Elon Musk and other players like Mercedes-Benz.