Skoda Planning Two New Electric Cars For India: Details
So far, the Czech automaker Skoda Auto has not launched any electric car in India. However, recently, Skoda India's Brand Director, Ashish Gupta, revealed that the company is now accelerating its electric vehicle plans for India. Skoda is gearing up to launch two electric cars in India, and if you are someone who wants to know which two EVs could be launched in India, then you have come to the right spot.
The biggest highlight of Skoda's upcoming EV plans is the Peaq electric SUV. This model will soon become the flagship EV in Skoda's global lineup. Recently, while speaking about the possibility of launching the Peaq in India, Ashish Gupta revealed that the SUV is already on his radar. He stated that Skoda is currently evaluating the vehicle and studying the specifications required for the Indian market.
According to Gupta, the company does not want to bring a bare-bones version of the SUV and price it at a premium. Instead, it wants to offer a properly equipped flagship product that can help the brand image and showcase Skoda's latest technology.
At the moment, Skoda's global EV portfolio includes models such as the Elroq, Enyaq, and the upcoming Peaq. However, the company believes the Peaq makes the most sense for India. Most likely, the Elroq and Enyaq are not being considered because they would become expensive due to import duties.
The Peaq, on the other hand, is expected to be a premium flagship SUV. So, since it will primarily serve as a brand-building product, sales volumes become less important. This makes it a more practical choice for Skoda's first EV launch in India.
Internationally, the Peaq will be offered in three variants. These will include 60, 90, and 90x. The SUV will come with two battery pack options: 63 kWh and 91 kWh units. The flagship 90x variant will feature a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup and make 299 bhp. Meanwhile, the 60 and 90 variants will use a single rear-mounted electric motor, which will make 286 bhp.
Skoda has also revealed some impressive performance figures for the Peaq. It has stated that this SUV will offer more than 600 km of claimed driving range. Also, 10-80 percent charging will take around 27-28 minutes. As for the top speed, it will be 180 kmph. Lastly, it will be offered with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options.
Apart from the Skoda Peaq, which will be brought in as an imported flagship model, the company is also planning a long-term EV strategy for India, where it will locally produce an EV for the mass market. Ashish Gupta has clearly stated that if Skoda wants to become a significant EV player in India, it has to be through a local manufacturing strategy.
According to him, imported EVs can help build the brand. However, they cannot deliver the sales volumes required to compete with established players like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hyundai, and Maruti Suzuki. As a result, Skoda is already working on a locally produced EV. However, the company says such projects require extensive supply-chain development, localisation planning, and cost optimisation. This means the launch is still a few years away.
Although Skoda has not officially confirmed the details, the strongest possibility is that its future India-focused EV could be based on the recently unveiled Epiq. The Epiq is built on Volkswagen Group's latest MEB+ electric platform and measures 4,171 mm in length, which will make it suitable for Indian conditions.
The SUV boasts Skoda's new Modern Solid design language, which features a Tech-Deck Face grille, T-shaped LED DRLs, sharp LED headlamps, connected styling elements, and an aerodynamic design with a drag coefficient of 0.275.
On the inside, the Epiq will get a 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a fully digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, connected car technology, OTA updates, Travel Assist 3.0, and 475 litres of boot space. If launched in India, the Skoda Epiq will take on the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Sierra EV, Mahindra BE 6, and Maruti Suzuki e Vitara.