Skoda Kushaq and Slavia CKD Kits to be Exported to Vietnam from India

News Highlights

• Skoda Auto also re-entered the Kazakhstan market in October last year.
• The auto giant also inaugurated a new Parts Expedition Centre in Pune last year.

Skoda Auto has disclosed that it manufactured more than 8.88 lakh units last year, and out of these, 52,000 cars were solely manufactured in India. The automaker has a manufacturing facility in Pune, and 48,000 units of the Kushaq and Slavia models were developed there. Skoda’s Aurangabad plant contributed around 4,400 units, encompassing the Kodiaq, Octavia, and Superb models. Skoda Auto also re-entered the Kazakhstan market in October last year, which marked the brand’s next step in expanding its global presence.

The manufacturer is looking to reach more buyers in the country, and at the same time, it is working on establishing its presence in the international market. In a recently held press conference, Skoda stated that the completely knocked down (CKD) kits will be retailed to Vietnam from its manufacturing facility located in Pune. Skoda leads the Brand Group Core in the ASEAN region, and Vietnam is part of the same region. The company is aiming to maximize sales growth for the Volkswagen Group.

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While announcing the annual results of 2022, the CEO of Skoda Auto, Klaus Zellmer, stated that the company is aiming to enter the ASEAN region, and beginning operations in Vietnam is going to act as a gateway to enter this region, and India will then emerge as the company’s export hub. The auto giant commenced its operations in Vietnam in September last year.

In Pune, the auto giant also inaugurated a new Parts Expedition Centre in October 2023. This facility is going to function as a logistics hub for the company’s CKD kits of the Slavia and Kushaq models developed in the country in 2024.

The Parts Expedition Centre, located in Pune, marked a milestone by being India’s first green building to receive the Green Building Council’s platinum certificate in December 2023. The platinum certification underscores the plant’s adherence to green building principles, keeping note of natural resource preservation, creating healthier spaces for workers, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation.

The Parts Expedition Centre (PEC) is spread across 16,800 square metres in Pune. The centre will be utilized to enhance India’s export operations in the ASEAN region. It will be exporting Indian-made kits to Vietnam for further production.