Skoda sells premium models in India and its small car model Fabia is also priced above Rs. 5 lakh in the Indian market. However, the company plans a little change in its India-specific strategy. It intends to increase its sales in the Indian market and plans to introduce a smaller car than Fabia in the domestic market. “All this while, we have been in the high level of the lifestyle. People like our cars (but) we need to be a little more affordable,” says Thomas Kuehl, Sales and Marketing, Skoda India.
Skoda India intends to build its next small car based on VW Up! platform and is expected to be christened as “Joyster.” Skoda intends to sell the car in the Indian market as well as the European market. The model will be powered by 1.0TDI diesel engine and a sub 1.0L petrol engine. The expected price of the model is Rs. 3-4 lakh and will be produced at Volkswagen’s plant in Chakan. Skoda Joyster and Volkswagen Up! are from the same group company and might compete with each other in the same price band.
