'Superb' is priced between Rs 22.68 lakh and Rs 29.36 lakh.
Skoda Auto India, which on Tuesday launched a new version of its premium sedan 'Superb' priced between Rs 22.68 lakh and Rs 29.36 lakh, said it expects to see a 10% growth in sales this year.
"We are looking at a 10% sales growth this year on the back of the new Superb. Last year, our sales grew 4% to 15,800 units and our market share stood at 0.6%," Skoda Auto India CMD Sudhir Rao said here.
When asked whether the company sees an increase in market share also, Rao answered in the negative. But, he expressed confidence that today's launch will help the company move faster. He did not, however, put a number to that.
It can be noted that for the past many years, the Czech company Skoda, which is now owned by the German major Volkswagen, has been lying low after a good start in the late 1990s roiled by dealership and service issues.
Rao further said that the parent Volkswagen is serious about the India business and the company has overcome almost 60 per cent of the problems it has been facing for many years.
When asked about whether the company will be increasing its dealerships this year to meet increased sales target, he answered in the negative.
Skoda has 75 dealers across 62 cities and sells four brands -- its most popular under Rs 10 lakh Rapid that fetched almost 75 per cent of volume, premium compact SUV Yeti, mid-segment sedan Octavia and the newly launched Superb.
Since 2012, the company has discontinued two models - the hatchback Fabia and the mid-segment sedan Laura.
The third generation of the new Superb, manufactured locally comes with a new 1.8 litre petrol and 2 litre diesel engine and is on a new monocoque platform. It will compete with the Toyota Camry.
Rao said they will discontinue the existing Superb with the launch of the new variant. He also hinted at a new SUV and a new version of Fabia in some years.
Talking about new launches going forward, he said it should be two-three every year.
When asked whether the company, which employees around 2,000 and has around 70,000 units capacity at its plant, has started making profits after bleeding for many years, Rao refused a direct answer saying that the headquarters is conscious about profitable growth and is happy with the performance here.
The third-generation Superb is more powerful than ever and yet it is up to 30% more economical, thanks to new and efficient engines and improved aerodynamics, he added.
The petrol variants are priced at Rs 22.68 lakh, Rs 23.91 lakh and Rs 26.89 lakh while the diesel trims at Rs 26.39 lakh and Rs 29.36 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).
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