PTI

New Delhi: Czech automaker Skoda is planning to introduce as many as eight models in next five years to make India amongst the top-five of its global markets.

“We want to enter the top five in the next 3-5 years and hence we will be introducing between 4-8 models in the country,” Skoda Auto India Member of the Board (Sales and Marketing) Thomas Kuehl told reporters on the sidelines of the 48th SIAM Annual Convention 2008 here.

“We are looking at introducing sports utility vehicles (SUVs), multi-purpose vehicles and a car below Fabia,” Kuehl added.

The small car that the company plans to introduce would be in the price range of 3-5 lakh and would compete with Hyundai I10 and Chevrolet Spark, he said.

The company will introduce a new Superb sedan next year. He said the company is also planning to introduce a sporty version of its hatchback Fabia, which could be priced around Rs10 lakh.

Kuehl said the company is looking to almost double its sales in India to 20,000 units this year as compared to 12,000 units last year.

He added that Skoda was planning a replacement for one of its best-selling models, Octavia sedan.

This replacement is likely to come in the next 2-3 years time and will be a completely new car for the global market.

He said the company is also working on a station wagon version of its hatchback Fabia for the Indian market.

Skoda has a total production capacity of 30,000 units in India.