Skoda Auto will debut its electric vehicle (EV) in India in 2028, CEO Klaus Zellmer said in an interview in Mumbai, as the Czech carmaker accelerates plans to form a joint venture with a strong local partner and finally break into the country's top three sales brands after more than two decades of operations, according to Business Today.
EV Launch and India's Electric Transition
Zellmer said the share of EV cars in India could touch 15–20% by the end of the decade, Business Today reported. He praised government efforts aimed at reducing the CO2 footprint, but flagged concerns about the potential impact of the E20 fuel mandate on older generations of cars.
The CEO did not specify which model Skoda will launch. Sources told Business Today that the company is evaluating the electric SUV Peaq as a CBU (completely built unit), meaning the vehicle would be imported fully built rather than assembled locally at first.
Joint Venture Talks with JSW Group
The EV move comes as talks to form a joint venture with a local partner gain pace. Skoda Auto, part of the Volkswagen Group, is in negotiations to finalise a deal with JSW Group, the conglomerate led by Sajjan Jindal, according to the report.
Under the proposed structure, JSW Group could make an investment in Skoda Auto's India unit and hold a majority stake in the joint venture, Business Today reported. Zellmer said Skoda requires a new 'business model' in India to shore up its growth and expects the EV launch to place the country among its top three markets globally. The Czech Republic-based carmaker, part of the Volkswagen Group, has been operating in India for over two decades without breaking into the top three brands in sales volumes, according to Business Today.
Top-Three Market Ambition
Skoda's long-standing struggle to climb the Indian sales rankings stands in contrast to its global ambitions. The company is looking to step up growth in a market where it has failed to break into the top three brands in terms of sales volumes, the report said. Zellmer's confidence rests on the upcoming EV rollout, which he expects will lift India into the brand's top three markets worldwide.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| EV debut year | 2028 |
| Forecast EV share of Indian car market | 15–20% by end of decade |
| Model under evaluation | Peaq electric SUV (as CBU) |
| JV partner in talks | JSW Group |
| Proposed JV stake | Majority for JSW Group |
| Years of Skoda operations in India | Over two decades |
CEO on Partner Selection
Speaking on the joint venture discussions, Zellmer said the company is looking for a partner with a strong local identity and described the process as a long-term commitment.
"We are looking for a potential partner to form a JV with a strong local entity. We have been discussing it for a quite long time. We have discussed that with a couple of different industry players…..this is getting married and we have to choose carefully because this is something for the long-run," Zellmer said.
Production Timeline
- Ongoing: Negotiations with JSW Group over a majority-stake joint venture in Skoda Auto's India unit.
- 2028: Skoda Auto's first electric vehicle debuts in India, with the Peaq electric SUV under evaluation as a CBU.
- By end of decade: EVs could account for 15–20% of Indian car sales, according to Zellmer.
For automotive suppliers and contract manufacturers in India, the 2028 EV launch provides a defined planning window for tooling, sourcing and capacity decisions. The proposed joint venture structure, which would put a local conglomerate in the majority position, aligns the brand with an India-based partner ahead of the EV rollout, giving the supply chain visibility into ownership and sourcing strategy as the timeline progresses.
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