On how important is it to have a local partner, Jahn said, “From a strategy point of view, it’s important to determine what is the best way which we’re exploring at the moment. The options are (whether) doing it alone (or) doing it with a partner in various kinds of partnerships…”
Earlier this month, Volkswagen Group, of which Skoda Auto is a part, and Mahindra & Mahindra announced their first supply agreement for electric vehicle components under their joint vision for electric mobility collaboration.
Under the agreement, Mahindra will become the first external partner to use Volkswagen’s “groundbreaking unified cell concept”, the core element of its battery strategy.
Jahn said a clarity in government policies will make it better for the company to plan a roadmap for its electric mobility journey.
“I have observed globally that these policies are changing very quickly.
“The governments are changing them for many reasons. We want to have from every government as much clarity as possible, but we are also realistic and we know that these policies will be developing. So the the more clarity we have, the better for us,” Jahn noted.
When asked how much of sales EVs are expected to contribute for Skoda in India in future, he said, “We will have to see that. The electrification just started and also there can be some presumptions. We will see.”
In Europe, he said, “We are now around 10 per cent of electric car in our portfolio and according to the current plan in Europe, it should increase and we should be by between 50 per cent to 70 per cent electric in 2030 given the presumption that Europe goes full electric in 2035.”
