VW Group announces new management structure in Skoda-led ‘India 2.0’ project

The Volkswagen Group in India is restructuring its management in order to deploy the existing synergies more efficiently in the development of this important growth market. As part of the ‘India 2.0’ project, the Volkswagen Group plans to sustainably strengthen its position in the Indian market.

In line with this, Gurpratap Boparai, currently managing director of Škoda Auto India, will also become managing director of the Volkswagen India with effect from January 1, 2019. Pavel Richter, technical director of production in the ‘India 2.0’ project will lead production responsibility for the Group in India. As part of the restructuring, Dr Andreas Lauermann will be moving to the Volkswagen Group by end of the year to take on new responsibilities.

In the future, all Group brands will continue their operations under the leadership of Gurpratap Boparai with a common strategy in the Indian market. The restructuring of the Volkswagen Group companies in India is planned for next year, subject to regulatory approvals.

As per a communication, the Volkswagen Group is placing the responsibility for implementing the ‘India 2.0’ project in the hands of the newly formed management team. The aim of this measure is to make more efficient use of existing synergies and to establish more agile coordination processes so that decisions can be made more quickly and flexibly.

Commenting on the development, Bernhard Maier, Škoda Auto CEO, said: “India is an important and attractive growth market for us. Our goal is clear: In this highly competitive environment, we aim for a combined Volkswagen and Skoda market share of up to 5% by 2025. Based on the MQB A0-IN platform from 2020, we will be offering the right models to unlock the Indian market’s potential.”

Gurpratap Boparai, managing director of Škoda Auto India, head of ‘India 2.0’, adds: “With the introduction of the new management structure, we are laying the foundations both for the joint implementation of ‘India 2.0’ and for achieving our goals in India: we will secure employment in India, create new jobs, attract talent and launch high quality and attractive vehicles on the market.”

Skoda to drive Volkswagen’s comeback in India
As part of ‘India 2.0’, Škoda will be responsible for the Volkswagen Group’s model campaign on the Indian market. All future models to be developed and produced locally in India will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB). This platform already meets the stricter legal requirements in India, which will come into force in 2020.

In this context, Škoda is developing the MQB-A0 IN sub-compact platform exclusively for the Indian market. The model campaign will be launched in 2020 with an SUV. In the second phase of the project, ŠKODA will be examining the possibility of exporting vehicles built in India.