Skoda has announced the name of its upcoming sedan as 'Slavia' for the Indian market. It will be the second model under the INDIA 2.0 project after the Kushaq SUV. Being developed specifically for the Indian subcontinent, Skoda Slavia will be underpinning the MQB-A0-IN platform. The company has released a teaser image which comes with the caption, "Winter 2021". The all-new Skoda Slavia could have its world premiere by the end of this year while being developed at the brand's Pune facility with 95 percent of localization.
The name 'Slavia' is reminiscent of the first bicycles jointly produced by company founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement in 1896. Hence, the new sedan has been named Slavia for India to pay homage to the company’s beginnings. The company further stated that while the Kushaq took inspiration from the Indian tradition, the Slavia represents the close ties between the Indo-European as well as Czech and Indian cultures. As part of the INDIA 2.0 project, Volkswagen Group has invested one billion euros in the development of four new vehicles (two Skoda and two Volkswagen models). Just so you know, Skoda Kushaq has already recorded more than 10,000 orders since its launch in July.
Zac Hollis, Brand Director ŠKODA AUTO India, says, “ŠKODA has a rich global legacy spanning more than 125 years. The SLAVIA name represents the beginning of a success story that has seen ŠKODA become one of the most renowned car makers. Rich in tradition, the SLAVIA name will now once again mark the start of a new era for the ŠKODA brand, this time on the Indian market. The SLAVIA will bring forth impeccable build quality, reliability and driving experience. We look forward to substantially growing our volumes in India and the SLAVIA will play a key role in delivering this objective.” Skoda is currently represented in more than 100 cities, with 165 sales and service locations. The goal is to increase the number of locations to 225 by the end of 2022.
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