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.”

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has completed the first year of ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, a holistic social initiative to support people with disabilities in India. Launched in 2023, the initiative is in line with Hyundai Motor Company’s global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’ and aims at raising awareness and building a movement for the inclusion of people with disabilities in India.

The event was attended by various dignitaries from the Government of India, including Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Sports; Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment and Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education. Unsoo Kim, Managing Director; Tarun Garg, Whole Time Director and Chief Operating Officer and J T Park, Function Advisor, Sales & Marketing were present at the event from HMIL’s side. Several other key government officials, NGO partners and stakeholders also joined the celebration.

The highlights of the event were the felicitation of Indian Paralympians, where the company felicitated seven Paralympians supported under ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative for their outstanding achievements, and the presentation of the ‘Charter of Recommendations for Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity’ to Government of India by HMIL. The company also announced the launch of the ‘Samarth Hero Awards’ to honour individuals and organisations contributing to the empowerment of people with disabilities.

As an example of its dedication to inclusion, HMIL has worked to raise awareness, give assistance and create opportunities for those with disabilities over the past year through Samarth by Hyundai and its numerous projects. By raising awareness, establishing accessible spaces at HMIL dealerships, introducing car accessories that are accessible to persons with disabilities and establishing important alliances with NGOs, the media, and other stakeholders, the firm has achieved tremendous progress in empowering individuals with disabilities.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “At Hyundai, we believe in making a meaningful impact beyond mobility. ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ is a testament to our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all. I am immensely proud of the strides we’ve made in our first year, and I thank our partners, stakeholders and the government for their unwavering support. Together, we will continue to drive change and provide opportunities for people with disabilities, as we remain deeply committed to India and its people."

Jeep India, a Stellantis Group brand, has announced that it has started bookings for the 2025 model year Jeep Meridian.

Said to be a thoroughly facelifted model as compared to the earlier generation one, which sold in India in low numbers due to its premium pricing for a few years.

Positioned in the D-segment, the new vehicle – even though very likely to be based on the earlier generation Meridian’s platform – will boast of Level 2 ADAS among other exciting new features. The new features and styling attributes are expected to make the all-new vehicle more appealing and interesting to buyers searching for a rugged yet comfortable SUV.

The Level 2 ADAS – placed under safety tech – includes Advanced Driver Assistance System with over 70 safety and security features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Collision Mitigation Braking.

The other features under improved connectivity through the ‘Uconnect Connected Services’ platform include over 30 connected and remote features like Alexa home-to-SUV control, Remote Engine Start with AC Pre-Condition, Auto SOS, Geo-fencing and Remote Vehicle Monitoring.

Offering versatile seating systems – the Meridian will come in five-seat and seven-seat configuration – to add to its premium positioning, the D-segment SUV will be available with a 25.65 cm touchscreen, 25.9 cm fully digital instrument cluster, nine high-performance Alpine speakers and wireless charging.

Laced with a 4x4 system that includes Selec-Terrain that helps the vehicle to adapt to any surface, the all-new Meridian will come with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) suspension system.

The big-SUV – with a ground clearance of 203 mm and water-wading ability of up to 16 inches – will be powered by a 170 bhp two-litre diesel engine coupled to a nine-speed auto transmission.

Also offered with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission, the all-new Meridian is expected to be priced higher than the earlier generation model given the changes it will incorporate. 

Maruti Suzuki India has achieved a new production milestone with its Manesar facility rolling out 10 millionth vehicle.

With this, the facility became the fastest among Suzuki’s global automobile manufacturing base, to reach the milestone in just 18 years.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “As we reach this important landmark, I thank our customers for placing their trust in us. I also thank all our employees, business associates and Government of India for their continued support.”

 “Crossing the 10 million cumulative production mark at our Manesar facility is a testament to India’s manufacturing capability and our commitment to the larger national goal of ‘Make in India’. With a strong focus on local manufacturing of components, since inception, the company has been able to establish a vast supply chain in India. Through our large-scale manufacturing facilities, we have been able to provide direct and indirect employment to millions of people. Along with our supply chain partners, we will continue to contribute to making automobile industry in India self-reliant and globally competitive,” he said.

The Manesar facility is spread over 600 acres and had started operations in October 2006. It currently manufactures the Brezza, Ertiga, XL6, Ciaz, Dzire, Wagon R, S-Presso and Celerio at this facility.

These models are sold in domestic market and are exported to regions like Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and neighbouring countries in Asia. Maruti Suzuki’s first passenger car to be exported to Japan, the Baleno, was also manufactured at this facility.

Currently, Maruti Suzuki’s overall production capability stands at about 2.35 million units per annum. Since inception, the Company has produced over 31 million vehicles.

Kia Corporation (Kia) has developed a limited-edition trunk liner for the all-new Kia EV3 using plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) by The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing and scaling technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

The trunk liner is made using 40 percent recycled ocean plastic and is just as durable, protective and functional as a conventional trunk liner, claims the company. The accessory will feature a QR code to provide consumers comprehensive details on the product's creation and the partnership. Each trunk liner will also feature The Ocean Cleanup logo. The limited-edition accessory will be available in selected markets and available to order in line with the model’s market introduction.

The announcement of the accessory is a major milestone in its long-term partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, which commenced in 2022 and reflects Kia’s ongoing transformation into a leading provider of sustainable mobility solutions.

Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division, Kia, said, “This partnership is not only a testament to our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation, but a worldwide movement to create cleaner, healthier oceans for future generations. As the first genuine Kia accessory made using reclaimed ocean plastic, we are proud to see tangible progress made toward creating a circular resource system for ocean plastic. We will leverage the lessons learned during the recycling and product development process to continue to manufacture useful and beneficial products for our customers using ocean plastic retrieved and provided by The Ocean Cleanup.”

Boyan Slat, Founder & CEO, The Ocean Cleanup, said, “We are so grateful to have a visionary and passionate partner in Kia, who shares our vision of ensuring that the plastic we extract from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is given a new life in sustainable items. Our mission is made possible by partners such as Kia and we look forward to this launch being the first of many ways we turn ocean plastic from trash to treasure.”