Škoda Extends Assembly in India
President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus inaugurated the new assembly halls of the plant in Aurangabad on Saturday 12th November. So far, only Škoda Octavia Tour cars were assembled in the assembly plant. The new lines will enable theassembly of the Octavia Tour Estate, Octavia, and Superb models. “This extension of the existing assembly means another chapter in Škoda’s history in India. This will make it possible for us to increase the capacity up to 30,000 cars per year and to provide assembly lines for our future products,” said Horst Mühl, a member of the Škoda Auto Board of Management responsible for production and logistics, during the inauguration.
Since October 2001, when the first Octavia was assembled in India, 20,000 cars have been manufactured until 13th June 2005, and more than 25,000 units will have been manufactured until the end of this year; these cars will find their customers in the Indian market. Diesel versions represent sixty per cent of the total cars sold, reflecting the popularity of diesel engines in this market.