Skoda Auto Volkswagen in talks with JSW Group, Tata Motors for EV manufacturing: Report

Skoda in December had said it is in discussions with a potential partner regarding possible collaboration in India

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is in discussion with two domestic carmakers for electric car manufacturing as talks with Mahindra & Mahindra have remained inconclusive, The Economic Times reported on March 7.

The global automaker is in talks with JSW Group and Tata Motors to sign a licensing agreement for manufacturing, the report said.

The German carmaker was earlier in contact with M&M for a joint venture partnership. However, the talks are now off, the newspaper said. The firms are now exploring a licensing deal, ET said.

Skoda in December had said it is in discussions with a potential partner regarding possible collaboration in India, refuting speculation that it has halted the process of finding a local collaborator after the investigation over alleged customs duty fraud.

The company, which is leading the German automotive group Volkswagen's India operations, asserted that finding a local partner in India and the show cause notice by authorities for alleged customs duty fraud to the tune of Rs 11,000 crore (about $1.4 billion) over import of cars as completely knocked down units, are completely separate and unrelated.