VW Group Plans First India-Made Hybrid Car Launch by 2028

VW Group is developing the India Main Platform for hybrids and may launch its first locally built model by 2028.

The Volkswagen Group is looking closely at the growing demand for hybrid cars in India. The company might launch its first hybrid model in the Indian market by 2028. As electric vehicle (EV) sales slow down in Western countries, hybrid car sales are going up. This trend is making companies like Volkswagen, which were very focused on zero-emission models, rethink their plans for electric cars. Just like in many other international markets, the company is now planning to bring hybrid cars to India.

New Platform for India

According to a report from Autocar India, the Volkswagen Group is working on an ‘India Main Platform’ (IMP). This platform is a special version of their Compact Main Platform (CMP). The CMP was first called the ‘China Main Platform’ and is designed to support different types of cars, including electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids in China. This means the company should have no technical problems using it for full-hybrid and regular petrol/diesel cars as well.

Which Car Will Be First?

The report does not say which car will be the first locally made, mass-market hybrid model from the Volkswagen Group. However, it is likely that the first hybrid car will be a new version of one of the four ‘India 2.0’ models. These models, which include the Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Skoda Slavia, and VW Virtus, have not sold as well as the company hoped.

Volkswagen Group launched the Skoda Kushaq and VW Taigun in 2021. These were the first two ‘India 2.0’ models. They are expected to get a mid-life update by early 2026. The next versions of the Skoda Slavia and VW Virtus, which came out in 2022, should arrive a year later. In the future, the Volkswagen Group might use the IMP to launch locally made 7-seater SUVs from both Skoda and Volkswagen brands. These SUVs could come in both regular petrol/diesel and hybrid versions.

There have been talks about a car that could compete with the Hyundai Alcazar. The Skoda version of this car might bring back the Yeti name. Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer is a big fan of the Yeti and has said that the company could bring it back to India.

Analysis 

Volkswagen Group’s announcement to launch India-made hybrid cars by 2028 suggests a definitive change in strategy. The shift indicates a growing interest in hybrids in India. The creation of an ‘India Main Platform’ multi-energy vehicles underlines an orientation towards local production and adapting to local market needs. It could allow VW Group to compete more effectively against other known quantities such as Maruti Suzuki and Toyota, which already has hybrid options in India. Perhaps the focus on hybrids would be a viable “stepping stone” for Indian consumers moving towards greener, more sustainable mobility solutions.