Skoda Auto plans to manufacture electric cars in India and will invest in the country by itself if its search for a local partner fails, the Czech carmaker's CEO said, as its parent Volkswagen Group fights a $1.

The Czech automaker’s CEO, Klaus Zellmer, said that if the company fails to find a suitable collaborator, it will proceed with the investment independently.

Skoda Auto is preparing itself to ‘roll out electric vehicles (EVs) in India despite not being able to secure a local partner, reporters Reuters. The Czech automaker's move comes as its parent company,

VW's local unit Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is embroiled in a legal tussle with the country's tax department over allegations that it misclassified imports of some Audi, VW and Skoda cars

Earlier, one of VW's lawyers stated that the automaker will need to pay $2.8 billion including penalties and interest on losing the battle, against what it calls an "impossibly enormous" demand. Skoda has led Volkswagen's India strategy since 2018,