Škoda Auto India Offers Design Glimpse Of A Compact SUV
- By MT Bureau
- July 15, 2024
Celebrating its 129th anniversary globally and its 24 years of journey in India, Škoda Auto India has offered a second glimpse of its all-new compact SUV that is likely to be positioned below the Tiguan.
In what could be the most affordable Skoda SUV, the first design glimpse of the vehicle was provided in May 2024.
Spotted by many while undergoing tests in various regions of the country, the second glimpse follows as part of a host of customer and product actions for the 2024 calendar year.
Informing that his company began 2024 with the announcement of an all-new compact SUV and is well on track, Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, mentioned, “Our compact SUV is undergoing rigorous testing on our roads across India and we are continuously enhancing the finer nuances together with our production preparations, high competencies and quality local supplier partner ramp-ups.”
“The new compact SUV will truly democratise our European technology on Indian roads. As it is based on a larger car platform, our compact SUV will have the ‘big car’ feel within a compact footprint and thus have a great appeal for new car buyers, in line with our brand commitment to India, as the most important market for Škoda Auto outside Europe. A majority of the Škoda cars produced outside Europe are manufactured in our local factories and we are exporting locally produced Škoda cars to 14 countries,” he elaborated
Based on the MQB-A0-IN platform that is also the platform that the Kushaq and Slavia are based on, the all-new compact SUV promises the dynamics, handling and road manners of a larger car despite maintaining the four metre length criteria.
Incorporating elements from Škoda Auto’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language, the vehicle will be the Czech automaker’s first implementation of the ‘Modern Solid’ design language in India. It is defined by clear, reduced lines that reflect the simplicity, solidity and quality of the vehicle.
The design approach
The design team has taken efforts to provide the all-new SUV with a bold and muscular stance. It will have a good road presence, high ground clearance and SUV appearance.
Retaining the typical Škoda SUV language in the design and styling, the all-new compact SUV will come with modern technological features.
To target entirely new markets and to bring in new customers, the all-new vehicle is a result of the teams in India and the Czech Republic (specifically for India). Skoda first announced the all-new SUV in February 2024. The vehicle will hit the Indian market in 2025.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.
The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.
Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”
The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.
Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.
Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.
This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.
This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.
Hyundai Motor India Wholesales Grow 9.1% In November
- By MT Bureau
- December 01, 2025
Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported wholesales of 66,840 units in November 2025, up 9.1 percent YoY as against 61,252 units last year.
This includes domestic sales of 50,340 units, up 4 percent YoY and exports of 16,500 units, up 27 percent YoY.
Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “Supported by GST 2.0 reforms, we continue to carry forward sales momentum with a year-on-year growth in our monthly domestic sales in November 2025. Further, our commitment to bolstering India’s role as a global manufacturing hub is further solidified with 26.9% year-on-year growth in monthly exports.”
He further added that the all-new Hyundai Venue SUV, the company's first software-defined vehicle in India, has received more than 32,000 bookings within a month of its launch. The new Venue features ccNC infotainment powered by Nvidia.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reports 28% Sales Growth In November
- By MT Bureau
- December 01, 2025
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced its wholesales for November 2025, reporting total sales of 33,752 units, up 28 percent YoY.
This includes 30,085 units sold in the domestic market and 3,667 units exported.
Varinder Wadhwa, Vice-President, Sales–Service–Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Following a positive festive season supported by the government’s progressive GST reforms, we continue to witness a strong momentum, with a growth of 19 percent. The recent introduction of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder Aero Edition and Fortuner Leader Edition has also continued to help us reinforce this growth trajectory, receiving recognition across the country. The innovative initiatives such as the Drum Tao and the launch of the toyota experiential museum (tem) in Bangalore, have been highly appreciated, further strengthening customer engagement and brand connect.”

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