Skoda has begun sales of the locally produced Skoda Kushaq SUV in Vietnam. The Czech carmaker is leveraging synergies with India, from where it imports completely knocked-down (CKD) kits for assembly.
Alongside the Kushaq, Skoda’s line-up in Vietnam also includes the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs imported from Europe. In the coming months, local production and sales will be extended to include the Slavia sedan, which will also be assembled from CKD kits from India.
The Kushaq midsize SUV has been produced since March at a new plant established in partnership with the Thanh Cong Group. This is the very first Skoda model manufactured in Vietnam for the local market. The Kushaq for Vietnam is configured for driving on the right-hand side of the road and features advanced safety and comfort equipment such as radar-based adaptive cruise control or blind spot monitoring.
Before production started, pre-series Kushaq vehicles covered over 330,000 kilometres on a variety of Vietnamese roads and underwent extensive climate testing, including trials at temperatures from -10degC to +42degC and in high humidity.
Since Skoda’s entry into the Vietnamese market in September 2023, 15 dealerships have opened, including a new Experience Centre’ showroom concept in Hanoi. Further expansion of the network is planned for this year.
Images: Thanh Cong Group
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