Skoda India Exporting CKD Kits

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is taking a step forward by exporting completely knocked-down (CKD) kits for the Kushaq and Slavia, from India to Vietnam. These kits are being assembled at a brand-new facility in Quang Ninh province, which Skoda has developed in partnership with the Thanh Cong Group.

Skoda’s Export Ambitions

The Kushaq, a compact SUV, and Slavia, a mid-size sedan, are built on the MQB A0 IN platform—a design tailored specifically for the Indian market. This platform focuses heavily on localization and helps Skoda bring down costs and provide safe, fun-to-drive cars at good prices. After their launches in India, Skoda is now looking to bring these models to Vietnamese roads by assembling them locally. This approach makes logistics smoother by shipping CKD kits instead of fully built cars.

Vietnamese Assembly

Skoda began operations at the Quang Ninh facility in September 2023 and has opened 15 sales outlets across Vietnam. The company plans to expand this network to 32 dealerships by 2025. Production of the Kushaq is already underway, while assembly of the Slavia is expected to start later this year. The factory is equipped to locally assemble CKD kits sent from India. The Indian factory also presumably had to be upgraded with a new CKD assembly line to produce such kits. Skoda is using India as a springboard to expand operations in the greater South-East Asian markets such as Vietnam and Thailand. This approach will help Skoda India bring in greater revenues and increase sales as well as boost the Indian economy due to greater demand of localized products.

Potential Facelift

The Kushaq and Slavia, part of SAVWIPL’s India 2.0 plans, are due for a facelift in the upcoming months. They remain the most fun to drive and safe vehicles in their respective segments, offering a perfect balance of features and driving dynamics.