BULLSEYE

Not one to mince words, Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd., has no qualms about calling a spade a spade. In this interview, he talks to TURN OF SPEED about their hugely successful MQB A0 platform, the need to lower import duties, the group’s readiness to be a global EV leader, and the unfurling of their EV journey in India. Excerpts from the interview… TOS: How are you coping with the semiconductor shortage?  GB: Everybody is affected and so is our group. Our group’s headquarters recognizes that we are in the middle of launches and so far, they have given us the allocation that we require. TOS: So, you don’t see any hinderances? GB: No, hinderances are there. Even with this allocation there are…since everything today is flying by air, there is no stock anywhere in the system, so one missed flight means immediate impact or one small breakdown for a couple of hours in the chip-manufacturing plant means shortage somewhere. Some plant, somewhere or the other will shut down. Those interruptions, disruptions will happen, but overall, for the year, at least for the newer cars we should be able to manage getting our requirement. TOS: With no diesel engines and EVs yet to arrive