Skoda's Fabia to hit Indian roads by year-end

Jaipur, June 5: Premium cars manufacturer Skoda India today said the company will roll out its small car, 'Fabia' on the Indian roads by the end of this year.

''We are gearing upto launch our much awaited small car, Fabia in India by the end of this year,'' Skoda India Managing Director (Commercial) Karsten Bogun told reporters while addressing a press conference here.

Mr Bogun was here on the occasion of opening of the company's 49th dealership in the country.

He said the premium hatchback car is well accepted globally and the company is confident to get the same response from the Indian customers as well. It will have a veritable advantage over its competitors in terms of its world class, technology, quality and space offering, he added.

Besides, he said, ''With the recently launched Laura Elegance, we will be introducing a few more variants of the existing models in the country.'' While speaking on Northern India as a market for cars, Mr Bogun said, ''Our products have received good response and acceptance by our customers here and looking at this growing demand, we plan to open a few more dealerships by this year-end.'' He said the company targets to increase more dealerships from 49 to 58 across country by the end of this year.

Skoda India, a fully-owned subsidiary of SkodaAuto, a Czech Republic (Volkswagen Group), presently has 15 luxury models in the country.

Skoda India has sold over 43,000 units since November 2001. This year the company has set a target of selling 17,000 units.

The company has a manufacturing facility in Shendra near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, which is spread across 300,000 sq mt.

UNI