Volkswagen reboots India dreams, plans to invest Rs 79 bn by 2021

The investment of Rs 79 billion will be done in capacity enhancement, R&D, new technologies and products

When I drive around in Delhi or Mumbai, I see a lot of cars around me but too less Skodas, global CEO of Czech carmaker Skoda Bernhard Maier said on Monday after announcing the parent company Volkswagen’s plan to invest Rs 79 billion here. The two brands together own less than 2 per cent market share in India, the fifth-largest market for passenger vehicles (cars, vans and utility vehicles).

Skoda entered India 17 years ago, while Volkswagen began selling in 2007. The brands struggled to grow and underutilised manufacturing units. “There have been criticism on how this big group (Volkswagen)