Skoda's new Rapid launched, ranging from Rs 8.34 - 12.78 lakh

Skoda Auto, part of the Volkswagen Group, launched a souped-up version of its most successful sedan the Rapid on Thursday with new looks at a price range of Rs 8.34 lakh to Rs 12.78 lakh. The new Rapid, that has been contributing over 70% of its volume, comes with 1.6 litre petrol and 1.5 diesel variants and also in automatic and manual transmissions.

Sudhir Rao, chairman of Skoda India said on Thursday the company that has been facing a steep down-slide could arrest the fall and is on strong recovery path. He said he expects to sell 30-40% more Rapids this year over around 11,000 units it sold last year. Rao also said the company has a target to sell 15,000 units this year and 20,000 units next year. "The new Rapid is an integral part of our model offensive strategy here," Rao said adding it contributes over 70% of the volume.

Without offering sales numbers for the year, he said, last month the company sold 1,500 units out of which only 300 were the Superb, which is its second best seller. Sales and marketing director Ashutosh Dixit said while the maximum focus will be Rapid, it will also focus on the Superb, the Octavia, and the Yeti.

He said the company will add five more sales outlets next year to 70. The company said almost 40% of the sales now are of petrol models. Since its entry 15 years ago, it could sell only 2,30,247 units. It has a manufacturing facility at Shendra near Aurangabad.