Skoda, VW To Launch SUVs In India With Vegan Pineapple Leather Interiors

Good news for car buffs – Skoda and VW are set to launch small SUVs made specifically for India, representing a renewed push by the automakers to capture more space in the market.

The vehicles were unveiled at the Auto Expo in Delhi last week. The concepts, the Skoda Vision IN and VW Taigun are underpinned by a version of the group’s MQB-A0 small-car platform that has been localized for the India market by Skoda.

The Vision IN will go on sale in the second quarter of 2021, while the VW Taigun is one amongst four new SUVs the brand will launch in India over the course of the next two years.

What sets these cars apart is how they have been customized for the Indian population - the dashboard design is inspired by Kalamkari textile printing. And, in a nod to India’s vegetarian traditions, the interiors of the car forego leather for a vegan leather substitute made from pineapple leaves.

Alternative leather made from fruits and vegetables is gaining ground in India, with A Big Indian Story making and selling bags and accessories made from Pinatex, under their brand Tribe. Another brand to note is Malai, a Kerala-based company that crafts leather material and accessories from coconuts.