Skoda Auto India, the wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Czech carmaker Skoda, plans to assemble the Yeti SUV at its CKD plant in Aurangabad.
The model will is be launched in Europe in September and displayed at the New Delhi motor show in January 2010.
“We will be able to announce the launch date by the end of the year, following a feasibility study of manufacturing the Yeti in India within the next few weeks. It will be imported as a completely knocked down unit and assembled at our Aurangabad facility,” said the automaker’s sales and network development head Ashutosh Dixit.
The Indian unit has sold over 6,500 cars so far this year and expects the brand to perform well for the remainder.
“The Indian market looks optimistic for Skoda and we will be increasing our dealerships to 75 outlets by 2010 from the current 61,” said Dixit.
Aurangabad already assembles the Octavia, Superb and Laura while the Fabia hatchback is built at parent Volkswagen’s facility in Chakan.
Kevin Jacobs
