INDIA 2.0

ŠKODA with
Indian signature

Technology CENTER in Pune aims to meet the specific needs of Indian customers

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 stablished in June 2018 and inaugurated in January 2019, the Technology Center in Pune (TCP) is on the way to even greater success. ŠKODA’s first research and development centre outside the Czech Republic plays several key roles: It develops India-specific parts, steers local development suppliers, prepares the vehicle architecture and provides computer-aided simulations, verification and validation. It is also in charge of homologation and certification, market analyses, durability and fatigue tests. More broadly, the TCP extends and complements the activities of Technical Development in Mladá Boleslav, which is still fully responsible for the Styling Design and Concept Design phase.

WE SEE THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN PUNE AS A STANDALONE ORGANISATION, AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BACKBONE OF INDIA AND SOUTH EAST ASIA.

“The key to our success is to be flexible and local. One of the TCP’s greatest missions is to listen to the voice of India (customers' needs) and translate it into particular projects. By using our LLL-Triple L formula (from the Locals to the Locals using Local resources), we can implement solutions that reduce development costs and develop the highest value-for-money products by using the simply clever approach”, says the Head of the TCP Gordon Calder. The organisation’s main project is INDIA 2.0 with two ŠKODA and two Volkswagen products. But there are many more projects under way. “We also support Audi and Porsche in activities in India”, he adds.

The new centre has broken ground in several areas, showing ŠKODA’s commitment to become a global player, as well as the goal to boost R&D diversity, innovation and opportunities for our engineers. The Indian team has grown from a technical office of 40 engineers to a proficient centre with more than 200, a number that’s likely to grow in the future as the organisation becomes more autonomous. Another significant achievement in 2019 was in the area of supplier nominations, where the TCP helped purchasing teams to analyse valuable cost savings and provide ideas for parts considering India market requirements. Štěpán Vorlíček

Gordon Calder

Head OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN PUNE  

The future of Pune’s Technology Center is really thrilling. First of all, we need to strengthen its competences and expertise in design and development under the INDIA 2.0 project. But we also already have a couple of ideas on new products. In parallel, a fully grown TCP will provide engineering and vehicle development services for all ŠKODA markets. We’ll do our best to use the engineering abilities of young Indians in the research and development activities of worldwide products. We’re also planning to establish a dedicated Centre of Competence in computer-aided engineering, software development and chassis development to serve and support Technical Development in Mladá Boleslav.

Ready for the heat and monsoons

The Indian market is very specific and has many aspects to take into account. Local cars need to be refined for ‘noise and vibrations’ due to a wide variety of road conditions, AC cooling and airflow rates need to be higher due to very hot and humid weather in many Indian states, and specific cars have a higher ground clearance for rough roads. Technicians tackle clutch performance issues arising in heavy city traffic (constant stopping and starting), or good water resistance required during the monsoon season.