Skoda Auto's global CEO, Claus Zelmer, told HT Auto in a special conversation that the brand is actively developing a new, inexpensive electric vehicle that is particularly conforming for the Indian market.
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Inquiry motion Skoda is preparing for the next chapter of its journey in the Indian market. In IAA Mobility 2025, the company demonstrated its growing expertise in electric mobility with several major unveiling. Near them were EV (electric vehicle), Employee EV (electric vehicle), which is ready to define inexpensive electrical mobility for the brand in Europe. In addition, a striking Skoda Vision O on the performance was a brand-new electric wagon concept showing the company's developed vision-from a traditional, design-competent perspective that is powered by technology.
On the occasion of the incident, the global CEO of Skoda Auto, Claus Zoler, told HT Auto in a special conversation that the brand is actively developing a new, inexpensive electric vehicle for the Indian market.
Local of new CMP 21 EV Manch in India
Zelmer emphasized the importance of making a new electric vehicle platform local, which originally developed in China and is now adapted to the Indian market. This localized architecture will serve as the foundation of future Skoda and Volkswagen EVS, especially designed for India. “The big game in the context of battery electric vehicles will begin once, when we have localized our platform called CMP 21. This is a platform that has been engineered and developed in China, but we want to fully localize that in India. The platform will get two caps from Volkswagen and Skoda. We are probably working on another small battery electric vehicle.
CMP 21 platforms will enable Skoda to develop several EVs in India that can effectively compete with rival brands that are already making stable inroads in the electric vehicle segment already.
Skoda Epic did not plan for India
Asked whether the upcoming EPIQ EV would be introduced in the Indian market, Zelmer clarified that Skoda has separate plans for India, and not part of the company's strategy for the EPIQ sector.
Skoda sees India as an essential “second leg” for its business, which reduces dependence on European markets. This diversification is important, giving instability and geopolitical risk in other regions such as China and America. By investing heavy and committed to localized platforms, Skoda is aimed at a strong leg in India.
The CEO of Skoda Auto said, “There is not a good idea to depend on just one area. Many other car companies have found that with China and the US as we speak.
GST 2.0 a boon for Indian car market
Skoda's global CEO praised India's GST reforms, called it a great initiative. “This is actually a great initiative that will help boost the sales of a car industry and car that is more stable than currently growing. So I think this is the right decision. It moves consumers to the lower end of the segment,” he said.
Furthermore, sharing its views on India, furthering the E20 fuel, he said it is a positive attitude as it is efficiently cutting the CO2 emissions. “You know, usually speaking, I cannot talk about the balance between nutrition and bio fuel. You know, this is a thing that needs to be a deep dive. But to speak usually, to speak, enemy to fight climate change is Co2 and it is not a driving. So it takes back to the CO2 emissions, because it takes back on a circle, because it takes back the plant, because it takes out the plant, because it takes out the plant, because it takes out the plant, because it takes out the plant It is done. And that's why I fully appreciate it, until it fits the overall society and its structure, “Zelmer said.
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First published date: 11 September 2025, 14:30 pm IST