"There's No Plan to Leave India": Škoda's Global CEO Shuts Down Exit Rumours

Škoda Auto's global CEO Klaus Zellmer has firmly dismissed speculation that the Czech carmaker is scaling back its India ambitions, calling such rumours baseless and "the opposite" of the company's actual strategy.

Speaking exclusively with ACKO Drive, Zellmer addressed talk that has been circulating in trade circles suggesting uncertainty around Škoda's long-term India commitment. "There's no plan to leave India. It's quite the opposite," he said, adding that the brand sees India as essential to balancing its heavy reliance on Europe.

Zellmer pointed out that roughly 80 percent of Škoda's global sales currently come from Europe — a dependency he described as risky. "Just standing on one leg when it gets a bit shaky is dangerous. So you need to build a second leg. Our second leg is clearly defined to be India," he said.

The numbers back up his confidence. Škoda has grown 96 percent in India between 2024 and 2025, and the brand is currently running 8 percent ahead of its previous record year. Much of this momentum stems from the Kylaq, a sub-four-metre SUV developed specifically for Indian buyers by local engineers — a model Zellmer described as a "tremendous success" built through genuine India-first product thinking rather than a global car adapted for local tastes.

Beyond sales figures, Zellmer highlighted Škoda's operational footprint in the country: more than 4,000 employees at its Pune production facility, a growing export programme to markets like Vietnam and parts of the Middle East, and a 25-year presence that has made Škoda one of the earliest European entrants into the Indian market.

He also used the moment to reiterate India's role within Škoda's global manufacturing and R&D strategy, describing the country as "a hub for research and development, a hub for production, a hub for exports, and of course a hub for business conducted in India for India." This framing, he suggested, is central to why any talk of Škoda pulling back makes little strategic sense.

Zellmer's comments come at a time when the brand is also navigating bigger questions about its India strategy — including ongoing discussions around a potential local partnership and the eventual rollout of electric vehicles in the market. Rather than retreating, he indicated Škoda is doubling down, with the newly unveiled Slavia facelift positioned as the next major product milestone after the Kylaq and Kushaq.

"Actions speak louder than words," Zellmer said, pointing to the Slavia's world premiere in Mumbai as evidence of the brand's continued investment. "Wait for the car tonight."

With India projected to become one of the world's largest growth markets for automakers, Zellmer's remarks suggest Škoda intends to be a long-term player rather than a brand testing the waters — a message aimed squarely at quieting boardroom-level speculation before it gains further traction.