Skoda and Volkswagen to launch SUVs in India using pineapple leather interiors

Small SUVs made specifically for India are going to be launched by Skoda and Volkswagen which will represent a  renewed push by the automakers to capture more space in the market.

At the Auto Expo held in Delhi, the new vehicles were unveiled. The concepts, the Skoda Vision IN and VW Taigun are the 3 models underpinned by a version of the group’s MQB-A0 small-car platform that has been localized for the Indian market by Skoda.

The Vision IN will be launched in the market in the second quarter of 2021, while the VW Taigun is amongst 4 new SUVs which the brand will launch in India over the time the next 2 years.

The cars have been customized for the Indian population as the decorative trim on the dashboard is inspired by the traditional Indian textile printing technique ‘Kalamkari’ in which classic motifs are printed onto fabric using handmade East-Indian rosewood stamps and is produced in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

In the rear passenger area, the variable back seats are made using vegan and recycled materials, like Oak leather and Rhubarb fruit leather. Pinatex or pineapple leather which is a leather-like fabric made from waste pineapple leaves is used to make the floor mats. While recycled plastic fibers are used to produce the concept study’s roof lining.