Skoda's First India-Made Electric Vehicle Expected in 2028
Skoda is set to launch its first locally produced electric vehicle in India in 2028, as part of its India 3.0 programme
Skoda has been focusing on petrol models in India since 2020, but the company is now looking to diversify its offerings. With the share of petrol models shrinking in the overall car market, Skoda has announced an aggressive CNG plan, a return to diesel, and even electric vehicles in limited batches of fully imported models. However, a locally made electric offering is still missing from the company's line-up.
## Introduction to India 3.0 Programme The India 3.0 programme is expected to support a CNG-powered Kylaq in 2027 and two locally manufactured battery electric vehicles starting in 2028. The first electric vehicle will be a 5-seater, followed by a 7-seater at a later stage. According to Martin Jahn, Skoda Auto board member for sales and marketing, the company is now thinking about what would be the best option for an electric car in India.
## Electric Vehicle Details While specific details about the EVs have not been disclosed, it is likely that the EV programme will use an adaptation of the Volkswagen Group's China Main Platform, or CMP. The version being developed for India is referred to as the India Main Platform, or IMP, and will be tailored to local costs and market requirements. The group intends to leverage an existing electric architecture while localising the platform, battery system, and key components.
## Investment for New EVs The investment for the new EVs is expected to come from a proposed alliance with the JSW Group, which could bring in the much-needed capital for the EV programme. The proposed structure is likely to give the Indian conglomerate a majority stake. However, the discussions have yet to reach a formal conclusion, and the final structure and scope of the proposed alliance are still to be announced. Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is also examining other funding routes if the partnership does not materialise.
| Model | Launch Year | Seating Capacity | | --- | --- | --- | | CNG-powered Kylaq | 2027 | - | | 5-seater EV | 2028 | 5 | | 7-seater EV | - | 7 |
The company's goal is to achieve a high level of localisation to price the models competitively in the country's mainstream EV market. As stated by Skoda India brand director Ashish Gupta, the volume EVs are going to come when there is localisation, and that is something which the company is working on heavily. With the expected launch of the first India-made Skoda EV in 2028, the company is set to make a significant impact in the Indian electric vehicle market.
