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Skoda India To Revive Octavia: Plans Local Assembly
Skoda is considering the return of the Octavia to India, including its sportier RS variant. The fourth-generation Octavia facelift has been anticipated for some time. Skoda India brand director Petr Janeba hinted at the possibility of assembling the model locally.
"We are exploring the Octavia for India because this car must come back. This could exactly be up to Rs 30 lakh, where we currently have no offering," said Janeba. However, he did not commit to a specific launch timeline for India.
Local Assembly Plans
Currently, Skoda assembles the Kodiaq in India, with its next-gen model expected between April and June 2025. The new Octavia will follow, as it typically takes 12-18 months to prepare a car for parts and components assembly. Emissions and regulatory norms also require extensive testing.
"As a parts and components car, the Kodiak is already decided. It will come in between April and June next year. The next parts and components consideration is the Octavia," said Janeba.
Octavia RS Version
Interestingly, Skoda isn't just focusing on the regular Octavia but also its sportier RS version. Internationally, the Octavia offers 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines and a 2.0-litre diesel engine. For India, only petrol variants are planned, though the exact powertrain is yet to be finalised.
The Octavia RS features a 265hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The fourth-gen Octavia received a midlife facelift in February this year.
Next-gen Skoda Superb
Skoda sells the third-gen Superb in India as a full import in limited numbers. This strategy will continue with the fourth-gen model as well. "There is a new Superb coming, and the decision is that it will still be a CBU [completely built unit]. It will never be a parts and components assembly," said Janeba.
The Bratislava factory producing the Superb cannot make kits for a single right-hand drive market due to high investment costs for just one car in one market. "It's too much of an investment, and it does not make any sense. It's just one car for one market," added Janeba.
Skoda's plans indicate a strategic approach to reintroducing popular models like the Octavia while maintaining certain imports like the Superb due to logistical constraints.
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