Sudhir Rao, Skoda Auto India, Sudhir Rao Skoda
Sudhir Rao, managing director of Skoda Auto India, shows an umbrella that is fitted in the rear door panel in Skoda's newly unveiled Superb.REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Skoda Auto India operations managing director Sudhir Rao has put in his papers after serving the Czech carmaker's Indian arm for five years. Rao, who successfully streamlined the operations of Skoda in India, joined the company in 2012.

Before Skoda, Rao served as deputy MD and COO at Renault India. He also worked with General Motors for over two decades and was also associated with Avtec Engines, a CK Birla Group company. Rao will serve his term at Skoda until June 30 2017.

"Sudhir Rao will be leaving ŠKODA AUTO at his own request on 30th June 2017. We would like to thank Sudhir Rao for his commitment over many years and to wish him all the best in his future career. We will be announcing his successor in due course," ET Auto quoted Skoda Auto India spokesperson as saying. It was during his tenure that the Czech carmaker discontinued its small car Fabia in India.

The Skoda managing director has called it a day when the Czech automaker is planning to make a comeback in the compact vehicle segment in India in partnership with Tata Motors. Skoda and its parent company Volkswagen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a long-term partnership with Tata Motors and reports suggest that Skoda may make use of Tata Motors' advanced modular platform (AMP) for the upcoming mass market models.

Skoda India is also gearing up for the launch of its Kodiaq SUV in India. The Czech car firm, which is eyeing 25 percent sales growth in India this year, reported 13,370 units of sales last year as against 15,457 units in 2015, down 13.5 percent.

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