Skoda evaluating electric city car for India

Skoda is evaluating an all-electric city car for India. The new Skoda electric city car is one of three new electric vehicles being developed by Skoda and will first go on sale in Europe.

Skoda Global CEO, Thomas Schafer has confirmed that development of electric vehicles in India is very encouraging and we are studying for an entry-level electric city car that could come in the second half of this decade.

This new city car will be based on the Volkswagen ID. Life concept unveiled at the Munich Motor show last year and will be underpinned by the new MEB - entry platform which has been developed for cost-sensitive markets and comes with front-wheel drive.

• Skoda evaluating electric city car for India
• Will come in the second half of this decade
• Will be based on MEB entry front wheel drive platform

Skoda's electric vehicle plan for India

The brand, as reported by us earlier, is currently studying the Enyaq electric SUV for a possible market introduction. The Enyaq has already gathered more than one lakh orders globally and will be sold in India via the CKD route. Schafer believes that emerging markets like India need more entry-level EVs but the brand needs cars below the Enyaq in its global EV portfolio.

"The Enyaq is very well positioned and we need more cars below that,” he said. “Also the global demand is not on the top end always, so we have to play in the mid-segment as well. We are starting with Europe, and if demand picks up, then it will be available in India as well."

Schafer also confirmed a Skoda electric car based on the MEB entry platform that underpins the VW ID. Life concept. Its styling will be loosely based on the ID. Life concept, and could look more like a high-riding hatchback or a micro SUV rather than a conventional hatchback.  

"The city car is a group wide project and Skoda is participating too. There will be at least one small car based on the same platform and probably be slightly bigger than you see on the Volkswagen side but on the same platform. It could also be a vehicle that can be used in India," he added.

Skoda also teased an SUV-like vehicle while previewing its new design language, this new vehicle could preview Skoda's entry-level city car / SUV and is expected to be the shown in concept form later this year.

Volkswagen MEB-Small platform: in a nutshell

With a 2,650mm wheelbase, the MEB-entry platform will form the basis of future small and affordable ID electric cars from Volkswagen and Skoda, starting from 2025.

The ID.LIFE concept's production version will likely be called the ID.1. It will be the first model built on the MEB-entry platform which will underpin models from other VW group brands like Skoda, Seat and performance brand Cupra.

A key distinction of the MEB-small platform is that it is front-wheel drive, unlike the  standard MEB platform, which comes in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive formats. This also helps with the pricing of the models based on this platform.

Volkswagen Group's made-in-India electric car plans

Even as the group’s focus has been its India 2.0 products, it has already begun work on its India 2.5 plan, which consists of a compact SUV for now. The group will introduce the Skoda Enyaq in India to test waters, and the VW ID.4 Crozz could also make it here in future via the CBU route. 

A made-in-India electric car from Skoda is still some time away and may take place only in the second half of the decade. 

Skoda electric city car: will it have a Volkswagen derivative in India?

Going by the group's strategy of heavily localising the MQB A0 IN platform by introducing multiple models on it for greater economies of scale, the group could follow suit with the MEB entry platform and may have a Volkswagen version as well.

Should Skoda bring its electric city car to India? Let us know in the comments below.

Also see:

Upcoming electric SUVs, cars in India in 2022