Carving out a strategic roadmap in line with electrified mobility, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is readying itself to launch the initial series of high-power hybrid cars in the Indian market by 2028.
The next set of models will be midsize SUVs and sedans, in order to exploit the increasing consumer demand for fuel-efficient powertrains, as well as the upcoming stricter CAFE Phase 3.
New Platform: IMP21 - India Specified
The new hybrid models will be assembled under the newly developed localised version of the VW Group platform known as the CMP (China Main Platform), thus known as the IMP21.
India Main Platform (IMP) is tailored so as to accommodate various options of the powertrain and this can vary within the internal combustion engines (ICE), till powerful hybrids and even battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
The two companies, Skoda and Volkswagen, can be flexible and that enables them to cope swiftly with the requirements of the legislation and the changes in the market as well.
The addition is also a step towards the long-term sustainability of the VW Group in India. The wave of hybrid cars will assist the company to transition between the conventional ICE and the fully electric vehicles by filling the gap financially efficiently, as the government provides encouragement to fuel-efficient technologies.
Hybrid Competition Heating Up
The future of the midsize SUV and sedan hybrid market in India will be very competitive by 2028. The third-generation Creta by Hyundai and second-gen Seltos by Kia, and hybrid versions of the Renault Duster and midsize SUV by Nissan are likely to present tough competition to the upcoming models of Skoda and Volkswagen. The Skoda and VW hybrids will compete in the sedan space with the established market of the Honda City e: HEV.
Currently, Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are the only two companies with hybrid midsize SUVs, the Grand Vitara and the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. This will soon be an utter disappointment to buyers as the gradual entry of Skoda and Volkswagen will introduce more choices of cars that combine fuel economy with driving performance.
Since the hybrid space is gaining popularity in India, the hybrid product as offered by Skoda and VW in 2028 may turn out to be a game-changer in India in the entire spectrum of Skoda and VW.
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