PUNE, July 31: Audi AG, the German car manufacturer, is close to finalising a tieup with Autorola of the Sai group owned by the Pune-based Kalmadis, said manager (new markets) Berndt A. Buchmann.

Skoda officials said a final decision would be taken by October. Audi and Skoda are wholly owned subsidiaries of Volkswagen of Germany.

Audi will introduce the A6, launched in Europe last May, to compete with Mercedes Benz. Buchmann was confident that the car would hit the market by the second half of 1998. Skoda director (Indian operations) Imran Hassen, though, said the car would roll out by 1998-end. The Felicia and Octavia too will be introduced by end 1998, and are likely to be assembled in completely knocked down form till the production base is commissioned.

Skoda is yet to decide on a partner and the location of its plant though Ranjangaon near Pune has emerged the frontrunner, Hassen said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.