Publicis India bags the extension to Skoda’s creative mandate

Automobile brand Škoda Auto India has extended its partnership with its creative Agency on Record (AoR) Publicis India by another three years. The agency was awarded the extension after a hotly contested multi-agency pitch and will continue to manage the business out of its Mumbai office.

As part of its mandate, the agency will continue to provide mainline strategy and creative communication solutions to Škoda Auto India. It will handle all the sub-brands from Škoda, including Rapid, Octavia, Superb, Kodiaq and the soon-to-be-launched Karoq.

Tarun Jha, Head of Marketing and Product, Škoda Auto India, said, “Škoda India is currently in a positive growth phase, and will be launching products across segments in the next few years. We were looking for a partner to help us achieve our goals and further strengthen Škoda’s equity in the Indian market. Publicis India showcased a thorough strategic and strong creative framework which was in alignment with the brand’s vision for the future. We are happy to be renewing our creative partnership with them and look forward to a great body of work in the coming years.”

Paritosh Srivastava, COO, Publicis Ambience, added here, “We expected nothing less given the body of work created by us in the last three years, which has also been recognised by the global Škoda team. It was a long and tough pitch and we are thankful that the team at Škoda has entrusted us for another three years.”

He further said, “We are lucky to have been a part of an exciting transformation that Škoda India has undergone in the last three years from product design to experience to after-sales and are delighted that it’s given the brand a boost in India. There are always newer and bigger challenges in the tremendous growth journey we’re on and we are ready as trusted partners to help Škoda Auto India overcome them in the next few years.”

In Škoda Auto’s almost two decade long presence in India, Publicis India has the longest association as its agency partner. Over the past few years, Publics India has rolled out a series of campaigns for a range of brands under Škoda Auto. The agency is currently working on a new brand campaign for Škoda Auto that would be unveiled very soon.