Czech carmaker Skoda said it will assemble its upcoming sports utility vehicle (SUV) ‘Yeti’ at its Indian plant once it is commercially launched in the country next year.
SkodaAuto India, the wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, will showcase the SUV at the Auto Expo in the National Capital in January next year after its European launch in September this year.
“Feasibility study of the car (Yeti) will be started within a few weeks and by the end of the year, we will be able to announce the date of launch. It is unlikely that it will be launched in this fiscal, but it will surely come in 2010,” SkodaAuto India Senior General Manager (Sales and Network Development) Ashutosh Dixit said.
Before the commercial launch of ‘Yeti’ in India, the car would be showcased in the upcoming Auto Expo in the National Capital in January next year, he added.
“Yeti was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this year and the vehicle is likely to be launched in the European markets in September in both petrol and diesel engines,” Dixit said, adding for the Indian market, Yeti’s engine capacity would be decided after the completion of the feasibility study.
Asked whether the car would be manufactured in India, he said, “It will be brought in as a completely-knocked-down (CKD) unit and will be assembled at our Aurangabad facility.”