The Hindu Business Line : Skoda may use India as hub for exports

CZECH carmaker Skoda Auto said on Friday here that the success of Octavia had spurred the company to increase its commitment in the country and use it as an export hub at a later stage.

"We could look at using India as an export hub in the near future," Skoda Auto's Member of the Board of Management Mr Karl-Gunter Busching told Business Line.

He said the company did not want to rush into the launch of more cars in India but build on the success of its existing models.

"We want to go step by step. Based on the success of Octavia, we will launch Superb in April and then Fabia later on," Mr Busching said.

He said the company recognises the growing high volume small car segment in India and hence will be launching Fabia to tap that segment.

Mr Busching said the company will continuously monitor the market and based on the feedback, it will launch suitable models.

Fuel-efficient engine

Skoda will soon unveil a high-torque low emission "pumpe duse" (PD) diesel engine which gives increased mileage and launch a turbo-prop petrol model of Octavia in India.

Some of the new models like Superb will have the PD (unit injector) engines and compete with the common-rail direct injection (CRDi) engines popularised by Hyundai.

Pumpe düse diesel engines offer high performance using high-pressure injector units, a turbocharger and variable turbine geometry. This pump injection system injects fuel at extremely high pressures, for maximum efficiency and power. PD engines have extremely high fuel efficiency and can give up to 26 km per litre.

Skoda Auto General Manager for Sales and Marketing, Mr Bipin Datar, told Business Line that PD engines are fitted in most of the Volkswagen cars. He said the high volume Fabia could also be fitted with the PD engines when they are launched in India towards the end of 2004.

Mr Datar said Skoda has showcased a concept car in the current Auto Expo called SkodaTudor, which had been unveiled in the international automobile hall of Geneva earlier. The SkodaTudor is a stylish coupe classic and has been developed from the highest model of Skoda range, the Superb.

The height of the body of the concept car has been reduced because of the vehicle's sport character and it has been fitted with the top end engine of the Superb range, the 2.8 litre, V6, 30 valves and 190 hp engine. SkodaTudor has front traction, a five-speed manual gear box and is equipped with all the electronic security systems including the ESP.