Skoda Confirms New Made-For-India Compact SUV; Launch: Late -2020

Based on the soon-to-be-localised MQB A0 platform, the upcoming Skoda SUV will make its international debut in India in 2020

Pictured: Skoda Kamiq's sketch for representation

Skoda has confirmed that the first product to be based on the localised version of the MQB A0 IN platform will be a made-for-India SUV. It is set to make its world premiere in India, which will be a first for a Skoda, in the second half of 2020.

Pictured: Skoda Vision X 

Earlier, it was expected that the made-in-India MBQ A0-based Skoda SUV would essentially be the production-spec version of the Vision X concept. However, Skoda has now clarified that it will be a brand new product instead. This approach is similar to the way Volkswagen Group functions in other markets such as Brazil and China wherein it has given the responsibility of launching market-specific products to its subsidiaries.

The upcoming Skoda SUV tailor made for India is likely to follow the same path as the VW Virtus, Teramont and the Skoda Kamiq in Brazil and China, respectively. For example, the Virtus, which made its world premiere in Brazil and is only on sale in the South American market, is now expected to replace the ageing Vento/Polo sedan in other markets such as Russia and India. The VW Teramont, a full-size seven-seat SUV which was launched exclusively for the Chinese market, was later found to be feasible for the US market as well. Similarly, Skoda introduced a China-exclusive compact SUV called the Kamiq at the Auto China 2018. 

Pictured: Skoda Kamiq

Although Skoda hasn’t mentioned the segment in which its upcoming SUV would compete in, it is likely to be positioned in the compact SUV space. Here, it will compete against the best-selling Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster and Captur, and the upcoming Nissan Kicks and Kia SP concept-based SUV. Skoda says it aims to localise at least 90 per cent of the MQB A0-based products in India. So, expect the upcoming SUV to sport a competitive price tag starting at around Rs 10 lakh.

• Nissan Kicks Expected To Launch In January 2019; Will Rival Hyundai Creta

While Skoda has remained tight-lipped about its new SUV, we expect its name to start with the letter ‘K’ and end with ‘Q’, just like its siblings such as the Kodiaq, Karoq and Kamiq.

• Confirmed: Skoda Karoq Coming To India In The Next 12-18 Months

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