026 JULY 2019 →TOPGEAR.COM
here for the long-term, we have invested billion euros in India
2. 0 project, as you are aware. Now we are working on projects
after that as well. We are also working on future propulsion
methods on cars. If we were to talk about short term now, I
would say yes, I am slightly depressed at the moment. But the
fundamentals of the economy are there and on the long term
the growth will be there. I am confident. Short term, the job is
for our guys to get us through this period, which we are doing.”
Easier said than done because competition is also comingfrom home. Zac insists that internally, there’s a clear line of
distinction, and there’s no “upper hand” while planning.
“Like every other brand has their own style, DNA,
management team, it is the same here. We are responsible for
our own team and sales. For me, as a sales and marketing guy,
the performance of the Skoda brand is what I am focused on.”
Of course, the bigger concern is having the right product
portfolio. Maybe Skoda has impressive models but they are
fewer than competition. Something that Zac acknowledges.
“As a sales guy, I would always want more (models). The
difficult thing is selling those models. In India, there are less
than perfect market requirements - both in terms of climate
and road conditions which means you have to work hard as a
manufacturer to live up to expectations. We will push all the
way to bring more products to India. It will only help sales.”
But last couple of years, Skoda has shied from smaller and
mass segment cars. Fabia couldn’t make a long term impact,
forcing the company to re-look at the mass segment strateg y.
And that is still work in progress, admits Zac.
“Fabia was positioned as a small, aspirational brand at the
time. But you can’t be small and aspirational. We were still
working on our India 2. 0 , we could get to small hatches or
could go to bigger cars as well. It is still being discussed.”
Nevertheless, SU Vs will be the way for ward for Skoda too.
“It’s the obvious kind of car to bring to India,” reiterates
Zac, “I see the market is growing in India only because of
SUVs. We will first bring one that will fit between the India