Skoda India and Volkswagen Group India inaugurate new tech centre under India 2.0

Tuhin Guha Updated: January 19, 2019, 01:00 PM IST

Skoda India and Volkswagen Group India today unveiled a new technology center at it's production facility in Chakan, Pune. The center is a major development in it's India 2.0 plan which aims to Garner five per cent market share in India.

This center is part of the EUR 250 million the group will invest in R and D for the Skoda led 2.0 plan. The first project being taken up here is the development of the India-specific MQB A0 IN. The 250 Indian engineers employed at this center will work on project management, electronics, infotainment, body design, interior, chassis and complete vehicle.

The platform will see up to 95% localization.

The overall investment for India 2.0 will cross the EUR 1 billion mark.

A concept based on this platform will debut at the 2020 Auto Expo. Thi will be a small SUV, possibly under sub-four-metres. The group promises that customer service will take a step forward with this plan, prices too will drop.

Other variations of the MQB too will be modified to suit India at a later date, given the flexibility of the technology.

All of the company's brands like Porsche, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini will also work towards the India 2.0 vision, but without diluting their individuality.

Christian Strube, Member of the Board for Technical Development, Skoda Auto sayid, "By opening the Technology Center, we underline our determination to make the INDIA 2.0 project a success. India has excellent universities and highly qualified staff; this state-of-the-art facility will help us to unlock that huge potential â" especially with regard to design and development. Local development is the key to success."

Gurpratap Boparai, head, Volkswagen Group India added, "The Technology Center will lay the foundation for the development of products that are specially designed for Indian market. We expect to roll out the first products, for both the Å KODA as well Volkswagen brands, by 2020- 21; starting with a mid-sized SUV based on MQB A0 IN platform. A model campaign, led by Å KODA, will follow. I am convinced that we can use all the strengths of Å KODA to the great benefit of the entire Volkswagen Group."