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Czech car maker Skoda Auto and Volkswagen Group India on Saturday inaugurated a new Technology Centre at its Chakan manufacturing plant here as part of its 2.0 India project. Skoda and Volkswagen group India are jointly investing €250 million (around Rs 2000 crore) in the research and development project in India. In India, Volkswagen group is led by Skoda.
The opening ceremony of the new technology centre, which will employ 250 engineers and develop India-specific vehicles, was attended by the Prime Minister of Czech Republic Andrej Babis as well as Christian Strube, member of the board of management for technical development, Skoda Auto and Gurpratap Boparai, head of the Volkswagen Group India. The India 2.0 project includes enhancing capacities at the group’s two plants at Aurangabad and Pune. Products developed under the INDIA 2.0 project will achieve up to 95 per cent localisation.
“I am delighted that Skoda Auto is expanding its presence and involvement in India with such significant investments and promising projects. The fact that Skoda is creating great opportunities for the high potential market here in India demonstrates the long-term strategy of the brand,” Babis said at the inaugural ceremony. The opening of the technology centre in Chakan represents the first major step in implementing the ‘India 2.0’ project. The Indian engineers will be responsible for project management, electronics, infotainment, body design, interior, chassis and complete vehicle.
“By opening the technology centre, 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 especially with regard to design and development. Local development is the key to success, Strube said.
Stating that the new centre will lay the foundation for the development of products that are specially designed for Indian market, Boparai said, “We expect to roll out the first products, for both the Skoda as well Volkswagen brands, by 2020- 21; starting with a mid-sized SUV based on MQB A0 IN platform.”
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