Skoda is getting closer to bringing diesel engines back to India. The Czech company showcased its first diesel car here after a gap of nearly 5 years at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo. The engine in question is under the hood of the new-generation Superb 4X4 on display, with the 2.0 diesel putting out 193hp and 400Nm of torque. While the new-generation B9 Superb is likely to be the first diesel car launched by Skoda in a long time, it is expected to be followed by others like the Kodiaq in the not-too-distant future.

1. Customers are still showing interest in diesel cars
2. Diesel to make a comeback in a VW Group brand after five years

The reason for the shift in strategy, according to Skoda India head Petr Janeba, is that Indian customers are still asking for diesel cars. “Up to 80 percent of Skoda cars sold earlier were diesel, and customers say they are interested today as well.” Companies like Hyundai, Kia, Tata and Mahindra still have a considerable chunk of sales coming from diesel, and this is also true for luxury car makers Mercedes and BMW. So, Skoda, positioned in the middle of the luxury and executive segments, would benefit considerably from the move. “We are definitely looking to fulfil the demand,” said Janeba.

Skoda and diesel were pretty synonymous when the Czech company first came to India. The very efficient and torquey diesel engines gave Indian customers just what they wanted – low running costs and plenty of pulling power. So, a huge percentage of Skodas sold in India in the early days were diesel. They powered cars like the first-gen Octavia, Superb, and Rapid and formed the core of the brand’s sales, delivering famously high levels of fuel economy.

What’s also interesting is that the return of diesel to a Volkswagen Group company will be the first after many of its brands were involved in the infamous Dieselgate scandal a decade ago: Some of its cars had been recorded putting out higher emissions than when tested in a lab. 

Diesel will also give Skoda and other group companies that are likely to follow, like Audi, a big advantage when it comes to group CO2 emissions. Efficient diesel engines actually help reduce CO2 emissions, the main factor in global warming. Depending on who you ask, CO2 emissions from cars account for between 5-7 percent of the total.