Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited is doing what few others in the automotive sector dare to do: invest in women’s skill training at the grassroots level. This move is not only bold, it is necessary.
The automobile and manufacturing sector continues to be one of the most male-dominated industries in India. Even at the entry level, women remain underrepresented. In FY23 and FY24, the overall workforce in the auto sector grew by 22%, but women’s participation increased by just 3%. Despite the industry’s economic significance, only 16% of the 8.49 lakh employees in NSE-listed automotive companies are women.
In 2023, only one in seven manufacturing roles were open to women. These numbers show how far the industry still needs to go. However, several companies have started setting gender-balanced hiring goals, from shop floor workers to executive positions. Alongside these hiring targets, many organisations are working at the grassroots level to equip women with the technical skills needed to enter the automotive sector.
When we look for inclusion done right, not just on paper, select automotive companies continue to distinguish themselves through consistent and results-driven approaches. Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is one of them, building programs that make gender diversity more than just a line in a report.
Skill with precision: How Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited is redefining paint tech training
There is a saying that if you give a young girl a colouring book and some crayons, she will be occupied for hours, fully immersed in creating something with her hands. But when it comes to creative roles in professional spaces like auto paint services, we barely see any women. In fact, women make up less than 13% of contractors in construction and painting trades.
This gender gap is especially noticeable in automotive and other professional paint services, which demand both creativity and precision. To address this, SAVWIPL has launched a state-of-the-art Paint Technology Lab at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Nashik.
The new Paint Technology Lab provides hands-on training and instruction in advanced paint technologies. The facility will support over 550 women students, helping bridge the gap between academic education and real-world industry demands. By offering hands-on experience, the lab builds confidence among young women and prepares them for future careers.
Peter Podprocky, Head of Škoda Academy, inaugurated the lab as part of the company’s initiative to modernise technical training for women. It’s a step towards creating more gender-inclusive technical spaces.
Closing the skill gap: SAVWIPL empowers women in tech
Attracting and retaining women in the auto industry is crucial to closing the sector’s growing skills gap. Many women still feel out of place in manufacturing due to a lack of relevant training and exposure. In addition, societal expectations and stereotypes often discourage them from entering these fields.
Skill development remains one of the biggest barriers to increasing women’s participation in technical roles. Without access to industry-relevant training, many women hesitate to pursue jobs that involve heavy machinery, complex tools, or fast-paced shop floors.
SAVWIPL has addressed this challenge by adopting five women-only Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Maharashtra. These institutes focus on technical education and skill-building, helping young women prepare for careers in manufacturing and automotive engineering.
A window of opportunity
India aims for 30% vehicle electrification by 2030, which will create new jobs in the automobile sector. In 2019–20, the sector employed 4.2 million people and supported nearly six times that number through indirect roles. A large part of this workforce comes from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), where women continue to be significantly underrepresented.
Many are held back not by lack of interest, but by limited access to training and the perception that technical roles aren’t for them. That is precisely where focused upskilling efforts, like those led by SAVWIPL, come into play.
By creating women-centric training programs, SAVWIPL is helping women workers step into roles that are not only in demand today but also necessary to the future of the automotive sector.
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited: Driving gender equity from the ground up
It is easy to cite statistics showing how few women work in the automotive industry. What matters more is how we respond. Are companies investing in training? Diversity and inclusion don’t begin at the point of hire. They start with access—access to skills, access to mentorship, and access to opportunity.
At changeincontent, we focus on stories where companies move beyond the usual checklists and lean into real impact. That’s why initiatives like those by Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), with their focus on long-term skill development for women, naturally caught our eye. If the industry wants to meet its goals while truly becoming inclusive, more companies must follow this approach. Not just because it looks good on a report, but because the future of India’s workforce depends on it.
At Changeincontent, we believe that real diversity begins with real access. And access starts with skills. Companies like Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited are not ticking boxes; they are building ladders.
Read next: The rise of skill-based hiring: Reshaping recruitment, but at what cost?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history, encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and marginalised individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
