Skoda Auto is not sitting quite with the launch of Yeti and plans to add another product for India in SUV segment. Skoda India plans to launch a mini-sports utility vehicle (SUV) priced below Rs. 10 lakh.
Currently the cheapest SUV is the Tata Safari and the Mahindra Scorpio followed by Skoda’s Yeti and then we have the higher priced SUV’s from Toyota and Mitsubishi. Mahindra & Mahindra’s Scorpio is priced between Rs 7.43 lakh and Rs 12.39 lakh, while Tata Motors’ Safari Dicor costs between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 13 lakh.
There is a no much competition in the under Rs. 10 lakh SUV segment and many aspire to own one, Maruti Gypsy is one such vehicle.
Recently the Fabia Scout was caught testing in India. So could Skoda launch the Scout as the sub Rs. 10 lakh SUV?? Skoda may launch the Fabia Scout with a 1.6 petrol and 1.6 diesel engine or even may use the existing 1.2 petrol/diesel engines.
Thomas Kuehl, a member of the board in charge of sales and marketing, Skoda Auto India, said: “The SUV segment is not growing as fast as was expected. We have to go down and are looking at a product priced below Rs. 10 lakh.” Kuehl, however, did not say by when the model would be launched.
Skoda sold more than 900 units of the Yeti so far, but are not very happy with the sales as the company expected larger share.
Skoda is also looking to introduce an entry-level sedan by the end of the year. To be priced between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and will be called Rapid which is based on the Vento platform.
