Made-In-India Skoda Kushaq Is Now Being Exported To Foreign Markets

The first batch of LHD (left-hand drive) Kushaq SUVs is being shipped to Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries

• The Kushaq is the first Skoda car based on the MQB-A0-IN platform to be exported to international markets.
• Skoda Volkswagen Group exports its cars from India to 44 countries.
•  Both RHD (right hand drive) and LHD (left hand drive) models are being exported from the group’s Chakan facility in India.
• Skoda dispatched more than 3,500 cars in September, registering 17 percent year-on-year growth in sales numbers.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has commenced the exports of its made-in-India compact SUV, the Kushaq, to foreign markets. It is the first locally made model from the carmaker to go this route. The group already exports its Taigun and Virtus models to other markets under the India 2.0 project. The third model to join the export lineup is the Skoda Kushaq, and the first shipment of LHD (left hand drive) and RHD (right hand drive) vehicles will go to Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries.

The group started its export venture in 2011 with the Volkswagen Vento and currently it exports made-in-India cars to 44 countries. These include South America, Central America, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, AGCC countries and the Caribbean region.

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Skoda India sold more than 3,500 units this September versus 3,000-odd vehicles in September 2021, registering a growth of 17 percent. From 175 touchpoints in December 2021, Skoda India has widened its reach to over 205 touchpoints, with the aim of hitting 250 by the end of 2022.

Here’s what the carmaker has to say:

ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India commences exports of the ŠKODA KUSHAQ

 The first ‘Made-in-India’ ŠKODA model to be exported; the third export from the India-specific MQB-A0-IN platform designed for the world

• Engineered in India and manufactured at the group’s Chakan facility in Maharashtra, the ŠKODA KUSHAQ is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform customised for India
• Right-hand-drive (RHD) and left-hand-drive (LHD) versions of the Skoda Kushaq are being exported to markets, including Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries and India sub-continent
• The group exports Volkswagen and ŠKODA cars to 44 countries from India. These include South America, Central America, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, AGCC countries and the Caribbean region

Pune, 3 October 2022: ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), which manages the Indian region of the five Volkswagen Group brands, ŠKODA, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini, has announced another significant milestone in its exports program with the start of the shipment of the Made-in-India ŠKODA KUSHAQ LHD (left-hand-drive). This is a landmark achievement, as the KUSHAQ is the first-ever locally built ŠKODA model to be exported from India. The first consignment of KUSHAQ LHD SUVs is headed to Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) countries.

 Earlier this year, SAVWIPL had commenced the export of INDIA 2.0 cars with the Volkswagen Taigun SUV, followed by the Volkswagen Virtus sedan in September.

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 Commenting on the occasion, Mr Piyush Arora, Managing Director, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, “It’s a proud moment for the team in India as a ŠKODA model joins the group’s export line-up. The ŠKODA KUSHAQ is the third Made-in-India car to be exported this year, and we are happy that the group’s endeavour to ‘Engineer cars in India to be Driven by the World’ is experiencing remarkable success. The market acceptance and success of all our exports highlight our global quality standards. The KUSHAQ is built in line with our customers’ requirements in India and globally, and we are confident that this stylish, well-equipped, robust and engaging-to-drive SUV will open doors to new markets and regions for SAVWIPL.”

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SAVWIPL launched its export programme in 2011 with 6,256 units of the India-built Volkswagen Vento for the South African market. Since then, the company’s export market has continued to grow incrementally to build the group’s ‘Made-in-India’ presence in 44 countries across South America, Central America, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the AGCC countries, and the Caribbean region. The group has already exported close to 5.5 lakh cars from India. Mexico is the largest export market for SAVWIPL, followed by South Africa and Central American countries (Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina), as well as ASEAN countries. 

The export business forms an essential part of the INDIA 2.0 strategy and enables SAVWIPL to sustainably maintain a healthy production share between domestic and export markets.

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