Škoda Auto has officially announced that its highly anticipated Kylaq will make its world debut in India on 6 November 2024. The launch of the Kylaq will see Škoda Auto entering a ‘New Era’ in India, which is the most important market for the brand outside Europe.

The Kylaq is powered by the tried-and-true 1.0 TSI engine, which is paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The engine generates 85 kW and 178 Nm of torque. The car uses the same MQB-A0-IN platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. These two vehicles have previously received a complete 5-star rating in Global NCAP testing for adults and children. The Kylaq comes standard with over 25 active and passive safety features, including six airbags, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, Motor Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Passenger airbag deactivation, Multi Collision Braking and ISOFIX seats, among many others.

The Kylaq has been tested throughout 800,000 kilometres of Indian terrain, including urban, highway, hilly and rugged routes. This all-new compact SUV has been tested in temperatures ranging from -10 to +85 degrees Celsius and at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,000 metres above sea level. To assure complete monsoon readiness and optimum weather resistance, 100 random samples of the Kylaq were subjected to 25-30 litres per minute/square metre of water at an angle of up to 16 degrees. This guarantees that no water enters the Kylaq under heavy monsoon conditions. The Kylaq has also undergone a vehicle shaking test to verify that the interiors stay silent and rattle-free across all road surfaces. To make sure there is no discolouration, distortion or loss of functionality in intense sunlight or other environmental conditions, the Kylaq has also been exposed to open weather for two years.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “I’m proud to present Kylaq – the first compact SUV from Škoda India. Kylaq is designed and made with high levels of localisation, thereby strengthening our ‘Make in India’ commitment. It represents the Group’s DNA of driving dynamic, safety and comfort, along with the practical features desired by our value conscious customers. I’m sure the product will resonate with Indian customers’ mindset. Kylaq, designed and engineered in India, for India, will be a gamechanger.”

Jiří Dytrych, Head of Product Management, Škoda Auto, shared, “It is a moment of great pride for me and our team to see the Kylaq getting closer to making its world debut in India. The MQB-A0-IN was conceived to be a highly flexible, modular and versatile platform. You all know the Kushaq and Slavia to be much larger, above 4-metre cars. Both these cars have been pivotal in the growing focus on having safer cars in India. At the development stage itself, this platform was conceived to also accommodate an under 4-metre car like the Kylaq and has the same spirit of unmatched driving dynamics, leading safety and proven quality. We take safety a notch higher with a best-in-segment hot-formed steel for the front crash module, to ensure best cabin safety. The key features of the car are always space and comfort for the driver and passengers. The Kylaq will offer first-in-class six-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with ventilation function. The Kylaq will lead our presence, in the fastest-growing and most competitive segment in India.”

Jan Bures, Executive Director – Sales, Marketing and Digital, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The Kylaq is just around the corner from making its debut in the world. It has been developed and even named keeping in mind evolving customer trends and aspirations in India. The under 4m segment makes up nearly 30 percent of the marketshare in the Indian passenger car sector. And the Kylaq, we believe, is adept at tapping this segment. It will also take us to new markets among tier 3 and 4 centres and bring new customers into our fold. With the response to this pre-production version, I will say with comfort and confidence that the Kylaq is on track to make its debut soon and will enable us to achieve further growth and inroads into the Indian market.”

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, shared, “Expanding our portfolio is a key part of our growth strategy, which will enable us to welcome more customers into the Škoda family. We committed to adding a new SUV – Kylaq -- to our offerings, and we are well on track for our biggest-ever launch in India. This is a huge milestone in our India journey and will enable us to double our addressable market share. From the teasers shared, you can tell that this will be a stunning-looking SUV. The Kylaq is now undergoing the final set of testing, and as a result, we cannot reveal the car in all its glory, yet. The Kylaq is the car that will democratise European technology in India. Among other things, it has over 25 active and passive safety features standard across all its variants, and about 30 in specific variants. The Kylaq is almost ready for its debut and will lead the charts when it comes to safety and dynamics.”

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 India’s automobile industry delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2025-26, with passenger vehicle exports reaching an all-time high even as domestic sales remained largely flat, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.

Passenger vehicle sales crossed the one million mark for the second consecutive year in Q1, reaching 1.01 million units, though this represented a 1.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The segment’s performance was buoyed by utility vehicles, which now account for 66 percent of passenger vehicle sales and posted 3.8 percent growth, whilst passenger cars declined 11.2 percent.

The standout performer was exports, with passenger vehicles achieving record Q1 exports of 204,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase. This surge was driven by stable demand across most markets, with particularly strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America, alongside recovery in neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.

"The performance of the Auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1," said Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM.

The two-wheeler segment faced headwinds with wholesale sales declining 6.2 percent to 4.67 million units due to inventory correction across the industry. However, retail registrations increased 5 percent during the quarter, driven by the marriage season and positive demand sentiments. Two-wheeler exports showed robust growth of 23.2 percent to 1.14 million units.

Three-wheelers achieved their highest-ever Q1 sales of 165,000 units, representing marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The segment benefited from increased economic activity supporting urban transportation demand and easier financing options. Exports in this category surged 34.4 percent to 96,000 units.

Commercial vehicles posted a marginal decline of 0.6 percent to 223,000 units, though exports grew strongly by 23.4 percent to around 20,000 units.

Looking ahead to Q2, SIAM expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges. The upcoming festive season is expected to drive demand, particularly for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, whilst an above-normal monsoon could aid rural income recovery.

"With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve," Chandra added.

The Reserve Bank of India's cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points over the past six months are expected to gradually ease borrowing costs, potentially boosting consumer sentiment and affordability.

However, supply-side challenges persist, particularly the recent export licensing requirement from China on rare earth magnets, which has raised concerns for original equipment manufacturers across all categories.

"Sales of Passenger Vehicles in Q1 of 2025-26 de-grew by (-) 1.4 percent, posting sales of 1.01 million units as compared to Q1 of previous year," said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.

In June alone, passenger vehicle sales declined 7.4 percent to 312,849 units, whilst two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 percent to 1.56 million units. Three-wheeler sales bucked the trend with 3.8 percent growth to 61,828 units.

The industry's overall domestic sales fell 5.1 percent in Q1 to 60.75 million units, reflecting the challenging operating environment facing India's automotive sector.

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Czech automotive brand Skoda Auto India has announced that it has achieved a new milestone by surpassing 300 customer touchpoints in the country. With this, the OEM has a network of touchpoints in 172 cities across the country and is rapidly expanding its presence in not just tier 1 cities, but also tier 2 and tier 3 markets.

Interestingly, 86 percent of the recent expansion have happened in these geographies and 75 percent of the 300 touchpoints are directly servicing customers in the same cities.

The Czech automaker is marking its 25th anniversary in the country and 130 years globally. It was just recently, Skoda Auto India reported its highest-ever half-yearly sales in the first half of 2025.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Our growing network makes our product range more accessible to customers, while enabling smarter, faster service with consistent quality, across the country. With a strong emphasis on ‘growing together and getting closer to customers’, a large part of our expansion has been undertaken with Skoda Auto’s long-term dealer partners in India, while also bringing new partners with a proven track record of customer centricity into the fold. This expansion is a step forward in strengthening Skoda Auto’s legacy in India and delivering on our promise of safety, value, and a truly rewarding ownership experience."

The expansion the company shared perfectly complements its product strategy, which has been significantly boosted by the Kylaq SUV, joining the Kushaq and Kodiaq to offer an ‘SUV For Everyone.’ The Slavia continues the brand's sedan legacy, with a new global icon expected to launch in India soon.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched a new variant – S AMT – for the Hyundai Aura sedan at INR 807,700 (ex-showroom).

Powered by 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine, the Hyundai Aura AMT variant is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill start assist control (HAC), LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), 6 airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in the highline version and outside rear view mirror with electric folding and turn indicators, thus making the popular offering more attractive.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we are committed to making smart mobility accessible to a wider set of customers. The introduction of advanced AMT transmission in Hyundai AURA S AMT reflects our continuous efforts to democratise technology and enhance convenience for customers. With this introduction, we aim to redefine the value proposition in the entry segment by offering superior comfort, safety, performance and convenience at an affordable price.”

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Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co has secured around USD 6 billion through long-term bonds, which will support its medium to long-term strategies.

The company shared that the funding raised through bond issuance was oversubscribed, which confirms investor confidence in the Re:Nissan recovery plan. The funds have been raised for longer tenors (4-year to 10-year tenors).

Nissan shared that it intends to use the net proceeds raised through the US dollar and euro offerings for general corporate purposes and upcoming bond maturities, including those in fiscal 2025.

Furthermore, the net proceeds from the convertible bonds are intended to be used by fiscal year 2030 for investments in new products and technologies such as electrification and software defined vehicles (SDV).

The Japanese automaker aims to strengthen its financing capabilities and maintain strong liquidity in its automotive business to support the goals in Re:Nissan.

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