Skoda’s Electrified Car Division Coined ‘iV,’ First Model In India Might Come In 2020

The first two cars from the iV division will be the Superb iV (plug-in hybrid) and Citigo iV (electric)

• Skoda iV division will comprise of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and fully electric vehicles (BEVs).

• Skoda will have at least 10 models in the iV range by 2022.

• The first iV BEV based on the dedicated electric platform (MEB) will be revealed in 2020, and based on the Vision iV concept.

• Superb iV likely to come to India in the near future.

Skoda has announced that its electrified vehicles will belong to the iV sub-brand, which is going to expand to over 10 models by 2022. The first three cars in the iV family will be the Superb iV (PHEV), Citigo iV (BEV) and the production version of the Vision iV concept (BEV).

Two of the first three electrified models in Skoda’s iV range will be based on existing cars -- the Superb and the Citigo. Both these will go on sale overseas in 2019 while the third model based on the Vision iV Concept will be introduced in 2020. The Vision iV will be based on the VW Group’s MEB architecture, which is specially designed only for electric vehicles.

Like Skoda, Volkswagen will also have a separate sub-brand of electric cars -- the ID range. However, while the ID family already includes cars with different body styles, it doesn’t involve electrified or even pure electric versions of any existing models. The entire ID range of VW cars is based on the MEB platform. The VW e-Golf, the electric version of the existing Golf hatchback, is not a part of the ID family of VW cars.

While we’re yet to hear Volkswagen launching an electric or electrified car in India, Skoda does have plans to bring the Superb iV to the subcontinent. The Superb facelift is set to launch in India in 2020 and we expect it to come with both petrol and diesel engine options initially. The PHEV version, which will compete with the hybrid versions of the Accord and Camry in India, may come in later. Don’t expect the Superb iV to be priced aggressively. Read more about the Superb facelift here.