German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has announced an organisational change in its External Affairs and Corporate Citizenship function. The company has appointed Dr. Shyam Sunder as the new Head of External Affairs and Corporate Citizenship, effective from 26 August, 2024. 

He will report to Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and will be responsible for leading Mercedes-Benz India’s government relations, public policy advocacy, and policy initiatives.

Dr Sunder will be expected to foster close collaboration with policymakers and industry leaders, and work to build communities through Mercedes-Benz’s diverse corporate citizenship programmes.

He holds a master’s degree in Econometrics and a Ph.D. in Economics. His career spread over 24 years, saw him holding pivotal roles related to driving public policy & advocacy and Government engagements at prominent automotive OEMs in the past.

He has also worked with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), where he played a vital role in shaping public policy and fostering industry collaborations. His extensive expertise in public affairs, policy advocacy and strategic stakeholder engagements firmly underscores his adeptness in managing external affairs and navigate intricate regulatory landscapes for the company.

Santosh Iyer said, “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Shyam Sunder as the Head of External Affairs and Corporate Citizenship at Mercedes-Benz India. His extensive experience and deep understanding of external affairs will be invaluable in conveying our views to policymakers and actively participating in various industry associations. Dr. Shyam’s expertise aligns with our commitment to fostering close collaboration with policymakers, external stakeholders, and driving impactful corporate social initiatives at Mercedes-Benz.”

Czech automaker Skoda Auto India, which completes its silver jubilee in India, has launched its all-new Kodiaq premium SUV at prices starting INR 4.68 million.

Powered by a 2.0 TSI engine, the Kodiaq produces 150kW and 320Nm of torque, which is distributed to both axles through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic. Based on the MQB37 platform, the Kodiaq SUV is available in the Sportline and Selection L&K in seven-seat configurations. The company shared that the SUV is being assembled in India at the brand’s facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The Kodiaq comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 14.86 kmpl by ARAI.

The all-new Skoda Kodiaq grows 59mm longer than its predecessor, now measuring 4,758mm in length, 1,864mm in width and 1,679mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,791mm. Its ground clearance increases to 155mm when fully laden. It continues to retain its three-row layout yet manages to offer 281 litres of cargo space with all seats upright, 786 litres with the third row folded, and 1,976 litres with both rear rows stowed. Externally, the SUV boasts a bold redesign, featuring LED Beam Crystallinium headlamps with a Welcome Effect and a front grille integrated with a horizontal light strip.

A red strip connecting the tail lamps accentuates its width, and six exterior colour options are available, including Moon White and Velvet Red, with exclusive Bronx Gold for the L&K and Steel Grey for the Sportline.

On the inside, the Kodiaq elevates luxury with two distinct themes: a sporty all-black interior for the Sportline and premium Cognac leather upholstery for the L&K trim. A 32.77-cm infotainment system and Smart Dials with tactile controls streamline access to HVAC, audio and drive modes. Ergonomic upgrades include a steering wheel-mounted gear selector and a rear tablet holder. The Ergo front seats feature advanced pneumatic massage, while an acoustic package and noise-reducing windows ensure a tranquil cabin.

The Kodiaq is equipped with nine airbags, complemented by a sliding panoramic sunroof and a 725W Canton sound system with 13 speakers.

Skoda Auto India is also offering a standard warranty of five-year/125,000km (whichever earlier), along with a 10-year complimentary Road-Side Assistance on offer.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “In March, we recorded our biggest ever monthly sales in India, driven by the Kylaq launch, and supported by the Kushaq and Slavia. This is one of many new records we aim to set this year. In line with our product offensive strategy, the launch of the all-new Kodiaq showcases the other end of our product spectrum with Škoda’s luxury and technology prowess. The Kodiaq has now grown to be an important legacy name for us like the Octavia and Superb. The Kodiaq offers the ultimate luxury and handling for city roads and also packs in versatile all-terrain capabilities.”

German luxury automotive brand BMW Group India has launched the BMW M Drift Academy, an exclusive performance training platform that brings the thrill of drifting to India like never before.

The two-day event will take place at Raymonds Compound in Thane West, Maharashtra on 26 April 2025.

The BMW M Drift Academy will allow enthusiasts to experience vehicle drifting in a safe environment. The event will feature the BMW M2 and BMW M4 with the course having a mix of theory and hands-on track time. Experienced BMW certified instructors will familiarise participants with the features of BMW M cars and train them on various aspects of the vehicles like controlling a drift, throttle control, maintaining a drift, exiting a drift, half circle drift, exiting a half circle drift with style, full circle drift, maintaining a full circle drift (clockwise and anticlockwise) and transition drifting on a figure 8. 

Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “The BMW M Drift Academy is first-of-its-kind experience for car enthusiasts in India. Designed to unlock pure driving exhilaration, the academy offers an unforgettable journey packed with mastering various drifting techniques with utmost safety. Conducted under the watchful eyes of BMW certified instructors, each session promises edge-of-the-seat excitement and skill enhancement behind the wheel of BMW M cars. It’s a perfect place where adrenaline meets precision, and every drift is a symphony of skill, speed and sound.”

Volkswagen India has launched the new Tiguan R-Line at INR 4.89 million (ex-showroom), expanding its SUV portfolio for the Indian market.

Based on the MQB EVO platform, the Tiguan R-Line introduces a new chassis generation focused on driving dynamics and on-road performance.

The Tiguan R-Line is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI EVO petrol engine that produces 204 PS and 320 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and features 4MOTION all-wheel drive. The SUV also includes Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC Pro) and Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which allows wheel-specific braking and damper adjustment.

In terms of safety, the Tiguan R-Line is equipped with 21 Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane assist, park assist, and emergency braking, among others. The model carries a 5-star EURO NCAP safety rating and includes 9 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist, hill descent control and disc brakes at both front and rear.

Inside the cabin, the vehicle includes a 26.04 cm digital cockpit and a 38.1 cm infotainment system. A head-up display and multifunction control dial with an integrated TFT display allow for driver interaction with various settings and modes. The voice assistant (IDA) provides access to multiple infotainment features.

Convenience features include wireless charging, Wireless App-Connect and a sound system with eight speakers. The infotainment system integrates navigation data with the digital cockpit display.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said, “With the launch of the all-new Tiguan R-Line today, we are entering an exciting phase for Volkswagen in India, a phase that embodies the future of premium mobility from Volkswagen. This iconic SUV along with being bold and dynamic is also modern, fully equipped and highly capable to handle all terrains. Developed with German–engineered DNA, 5-star safety and fun-to-drive dynamics, the all-new Tiguan R-Line is here to thrill.”

The Tiguan R-Line also comes with a support programme called 4EVER Care, which includes a four-year warranty, four-year roadside assistance, and three free services.

Bookings for the Tiguan R-Line are now open across all Volkswagen dealerships in India, as well as through the company's official website. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on 23 April 2025. The SUV will be offered in six colour variants: Persimmon Red Metallic, Cipressino Green Metallic, Nightshade Blue Metallic, Grenadilla Black Metallic, Oryx White Pearl, and Oyster Silver Metallic.

Italian luxury brand Automobili Lamborghini has appointed Nidhi Kaistha as the new Head of Lamborghini India.

With over two decades of experience across hospitality, aviation and automotive industry, Kaistha will  oversee sales, marketing and aftersales operations for Lamborghini in India, which also is the sixth-largest market for the luxury brand in the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining Lamborghini India, she held the role of Regional Sales & Pre-owned cars manager at Porsche India.

Francesco Scardaoni, Regional Director of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific, said, “We are delighted to welcome Nidhi Kaistha as Head of Lamborghini India. She brings a wealth of experience in the automotive industry, and we are confident that her strategic vision will drive further growth in India. India continues to be a market with immense growth potential for Lamborghini, and we look forward to strengthening our presence and delivering exceptional experiences to our customers in the region.”

At present, Lamborghini operates three dealerships in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.