Skoda-VW India MD Gurpratap Boparai quits

Gurpratap Boparai, MD, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has resigned from his position as the head of the company. Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL) has announced the resignation that will come into effect from 1st January 2022.

After Gurpratap, Christian Cahn Saleen will take charge of the SAVWIPL in his capacity as chairman of the company. A new successor will be announced shortly.

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Thomas Schaefer, Global Chairman, Skoda Auto, said on the development,

“It is with deep regret that we accept the resignation of Gurpratap. I would like to thank him for leading the Group’s India operations through a complex merger, and for his outstanding role in ensuring that the Group’s important INDIA 2.0 project was on schedule with only minimal disruptions, despite the challenges that arose from the pandemic. The seamless execution of the merger and the success of the products launched under the project are a testimony to his leadership and deep understanding of all aspects of the automotive business and of the evolving trends in the auto industry. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. I am confident that the leadership team that successfully executed the INDIA 2.0 project under him, is well-equipped to take the company to the next level, in line with our India strategy.”

Gurpratap joined Skoda Auto India Pvt Ltd in 2018 as MD. He then led the merger of three VW Group companies operating in India – Skoda India, Volkswagen India and Volkswagen Group Sales India. Gurpratap also headed the INDIA 2.0 strategy for the VW Group and got the mid-sized SUVs – Kushaq and Taigun to the Indian market.

Skoda and VW will bring a slew of all-new products

Skoda recently unveiled the all-new Slavia in the Indian market. It will be the second Skoda car to use the MQB AO IN platform specific to the Indian market. It will replace the ageing Rapid from the line-up and will arrive by around February 2022. The all-new Slavia will offer a number of futuristic technologies and will come powered by the same engine options as the Kushaq and Taigun.

Later in 2022, Volkswagen will bring its iteration of the car to the Indian market in form of Virtus. Skoda recently announced that it is starting to manufacture the Kodiaq facelift in India. Even that will arrive in the Indian market early next year. Even VW recently launched the new Tiguan facelift in the Indian market.

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