Skoda Auto India Private Ltd

Ownership
Skoda India is a fully owned subsidiary of Skoda Auto, which is owned by the international Volkswagen Group, having been bought in 1991.

Skoda Auto India entered the Indian market in November 2001, using the name Skoda Auto India by investing in a manufacturing plant in Shendra, on the outskirts of Aurangabad. This plant is the only manufacturing plant outside of Europe.

Initially Skoda Auto India invested in India by buying a plant located in Shendra, Aurangabad. However, in May, Skoda Auto India will begin operation in another plant in Chakan, which they will share with Volkswagen India. Skoda Auto India will use this plant to assemble Fabias and Volkswagen will use it to assemble Polos, from 2010. This plant has an assembling capacity of over 110,000 vehicles per year.

Sales And After Sales Services
With the backing of VW expertise, investment and design, Skoda in Europe and around the world has greatly improved making it a high end, stylish, value for money car. In India, Skoda Auto India, have already introduced 12 luxury models, debuting with the Octavia, which targeted the premium market.

Octavia was an instant hit with the Indian consumer, because the car had good fuel efficiency, excellent road handling, and a low price, when compared to other cars of the same premium segment. This automobile company India has managed to capture approximately a quarter of the luxury car market in India and according to official sales release it sold 16,000 cars in 2008 a 28.5% sales increase from 2007.

The other models of Skoda sold by this Indian automobile company are the Skoda Superb, Skoda Fabia and the Skoda Laura. Since its introduction into the Indian market, this automobile company in India has expanded very rapidly. From 2001 to 2005, the company had already captured 25% of the luxury car market and had a network with 41 dealerships.

By the end of 2008, this dealership network had increased to 61 dealerships throughout India. There are plans to increase this to 65 dealerships by the end of 2009, so as to improve after service sales and provide greater access to genuine Skoda spare parts, which are not available on the open market.

Skoda Auto India, has taken to the Indian market like a duck takes to water. In 2006, the company had already started receiving awards such as the 'Most Technologically Advanced Car' for the Skoda Laura; 'Best Variant' for Skoda Superb Turbo Diesel. It has also received 'Executive Car of the Year' award and 'Automotive Technology of the Year' award from OVERDRIVE.