Skoda Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd. (SAVWIPL) has announced the resignation of Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, SAVWIPL, with effect from January 1, 2022. Having spent almost 3 years with the company, Boparai spearheaded the India 2.0 strategy for the group which saw both Volkswagen and Skoda Auto India investing heavily in the country to make cars in India, for India. While his successor is yet to be announced, Christian Cahn von Seelen will take interim charge of the VW Group's Indian operations from January 1, 2022, in his capacity as Chairman of SAVWIPL.
Commenting on the resignation, Thomas Schaefer, Chairman, Skoda Auto said, "It is with deep regret that we accept the resignation of Gurpratap. I would like to thank him for leading the Group's India operations through a complex merger, and for his outstanding role in ensuring that the Group's important INDIA 2.0 project was on schedule with only minimal disruptions, despite the challenges that arose from the pandemic."
Boparai played a vital role in creating an environment of assembling VW Group cars in India. The Audi Q7 was the latest of the lot.
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The reason for his resignation has not been provided by the company, and we wait to see what his next steps are. Before joining the VW Group, Boparai served as the CEO of Fiat India from 2012. He joined Fiat in 2007 as the Assistant VP for Manufacturing and Powertrain division and two years later went on to head the powertrain division.
Boparai has also worked with companies such as TELCO (now Tata Motors), Ocap Chassis Parts, Iveco and Tata Cummins and has an experience which spans more than 25 years.
Boparai said, "It has been my honour and privilege to lead this fantastic team at SAVWIPL. This was a very difficult decision. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the team will continue to innovate, excel and deliver beyond its commitments. 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."
