Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has announced a major change in its leadership. Gurpratap Boparai, the managing director of the group, has stepped down from his position. The chairman of SAVWIPL, Christian Cahn von Seelen, will take interim charge of the role from January 1, 2022. The automaker says that Boparai’s successor will be announced “shortly”.

• Boparai took charge as the MD of Skoda Auto India in 2018
• Managed merger of VW Group companies in India
• Oversaw VW's 'India 2.0 project' 

Boparai had taken charge as the MD of Skoda Auto India on April 2, 2018. He managed the merger of three VW Group entities – Volkswagen India, Skoda Auto India and Volkswagen Group Sales India – to form SAVWIPL. VW Group’s 1 billion Euro ‘India 2.0’ project has also been executed under his leadership, giving rise to products like the Skoda Kushaq and VW Taigun, with the Skoda Slavia and a VW sedan to follow in the coming months.   

Thomas Schaefer, chairman, Skoda Auto, said, “It is with deep regret that we accept the resignation of Gurpratap. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. I am confident that the leadership team that successfully executed the India 2.0 project under him is well equipped to take the company to the next level, in line with our India strategy.”

“It has been my honour and privilege to lead this fantastic team at SAVWIPL," said Boparai. "This was a very difficult decision. I would like to thank Thomas Schaefer and Christian Cahn von Seelen and the team at HQ for their support and commitment to the India operations. The India 2.0 project was executed on time thanks to their endeavours at prioritising the Indian operations, especially in the face of the recent supply chain disruptions.”