Czech automaker Skoda Auto is celebrating its silver jubilee milestone in India. The OEM had entered the Indian market in January 2020 and had laid the foundation stone for its plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) making it the first Volkswagen Group brand to establish a presence in the domestic market.

The Skoda Octavia was the first model by the Volkswagen Group to be assembled locally in India.

Skoda Auto shared that its India operations plays a key role in its global plans, which has enabled to effectively leverage existing sales potential in the ASEAN region, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

It was in 2018, that Volkswagen Group appointed Skoda Auto to spearhead all activities in India jointly since 2018. Fast forward to present, Skoda has developed and produces three models locally in India for India, based on the localised MQB A0–IN platform: the Kushaq, the Slavia and the Kylaq compact SUV. 

Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Skoda Auto, said, “We have built on 25 years of experience in India to make this thriving market the cornerstone of our international growth strategy. With its tremendous talent pool, growing consumer demand, and access to other markets, India is becoming our second pillar outside Europe and helping leverage further sales potential in ASEAN, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region. Skoda has been a notable brand in India since we entered the market with the Octavia in 2001. We now produce in two plants. We have launched three all-new models specifically for India, achieving localisation of up to 95 percent: the Skoda Kushaq, Slavia and just recently the Kylaq compact SUV, which complement the Octavia and Superb we also sell through a growing dealer network. In the last two years, we have increased customer touchpoints across the country by 35 percent. India also contributes to the global sustainability goals of Skoda Auto. One plant already runs entirely on green energy, while the plant in Pune expanded its photovoltaic system to deliver up to 30 percent of its electricity needs. I want to thank all our Indian colleagues for helping power the next stage of our growth, and especially our customers for their trust in our products. With this passion, we can achieve even greater things in the next 25 years!"

Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Skoda was the first brand to establish Volkswagen Group’s presence in India, setting up its first plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar back in January 2000. As Skoda celebrates 25 years in the country, the Group’s focus on the Indian market continues to strengthen. With evolving consumer preferences, we are introducing products that combine the Group’s global expertise with a deep understanding of the Indian market. Today, our model lineup features advanced vehicles designed and built specifically for India, including the newly unveiled compact SUV, Skoda Kylaq.”

“This dynamic market has become the foundation of Skoda’s internationalisation strategy, driven by our commitment to innovation, safety, sustainability and customer-centric solutions. We are dedicated to enhancing our manufacturing capabilities & sales touchpoints and advancing our sustainability initiatives to deliver long-term value to our customers, employees, and communities,” added Arora.

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicles manufacturer, has announced that the ‘Made in India’ Jimny 5-door has been unveiled in Japan.

The Jimny 5-door model is exclusively manufactured in Maruti Suzuki’s facility in Gurugram, Haryana and is the second SUV after Fronx to be exported to Suzuki Motor Corporation’s domestic market (Japan) in FY2024-25.

It is interesting to note that Jimny has been a popular model for the Japanese automaker globally having sold more than 3.5 million units across 199 countries and regions. The iconic model had made a comeback in India at Auto Expo 2023, when it was first showcased by Maruti Suzuki.

In CY2024, Maruti Suzuki India exported over 323,000 passenger vehicles to around 100 countries, which translates to 43.5 percent market share in India’s total passenger vehicles export.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "The introduction of ‘Made in India’ Jimny 5-door in Japan is a testament to the global level of excellence in our manufacturing capability. It is our second model to be exported to Japan in this fiscal year (FY 2024-25) after Fronx in August 2024. Jimny is the second most exported Maruti Suzuki car in FY 2024-25^. After its resounding success in markets like Mexico, Australia, and South Africa, we are confident that it will delight customers in Japan. The export of Jimny reaffirms our commitment towards ‘Make-in-India for the world’.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has concluded the 24-hour Toyota Hackathon 2025 in Mumbai engineered to empower young innovators to drive road safety solutions. It has been a part of the automaker’s commitment to education and road safety. 
Held at Vidyalankar Institute, Wadala (East), Mumbai, and coinciding with ‘Road Safety Month’ (January 18 – February 17, 2025), the event brought together over 400 talented students from over 100 schools across Mumbai, turning in turn into an effective platform to develop actionable solutions to critical road safety challenges.
Attracting the presence of Atul Moreshwar Save, Minister for OBC Welfare, Dairy Development, and Renewable Energy, Government of Maharashtra; Arprit Save, President Chamber of Marathawada Industries and Agriculture, and Senior leadership from TKM (including Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, TKM, and Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President and Head State Affairs, TKM), the event – a key pillar of TKM’s comprehensive Road Safety Initiative designed to address this critical issue by integrating road safety education into school and college curriculums – began with team selection and idea submissions, progressed through a boot camp, culminated in a 24-hour final hackathon, and concluded with incubation support for the top one winner per city. 
Fostering critical thinking, innovation and a sense of responsibility, the Hackathon – structured in five phases – saw participants tackle key road safety themes such as ‘Road Safety Awareness and Education’, ‘Community Engagement for Safety’, ‘School Zone Safety’, ‘Road Infrastructure and Pollution’, ‘IoT/ICT in Road Safety’, ‘Traffic Easement’ and ‘Making Roads Inclusive’. 
Out of 100 initial teams, 28 advanced to post- boot camp, 10 teams completed in the final hackathon out of which 3 emerged as winners, earning continued support to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Following the success in Mumbai, the Toyota Hackathon 2025 will move to Bangalore on 14 February 2025. For the 2024-25 academic year, TKM aims to expand the initiative to 300 institutions across key cities, with over 400 innovative concepts already submitted.
Speaking at the event, Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we are driven by the belief that empowering the younger generation with the right tools, mentorship, and opportunities can lead to transformative change. The Toyota Hackathon 2025 serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to road safety and innovation, as it brings together young minds to ideate, collaborate, and develop solutions for safer roads. This initiative reflects our holistic approach to fostering a culture of safety and sustainability, aligning with Toyota’s global vision of zero traffic fatalities.”
 

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), a leading passenger vehicles manufacturer in the country, has announced that it has sold over 675,000 vehicles with ‘connected’ features in India.

It was in 2019, that the company first introduced ‘Hyundai Bluelink’ the connected feature in its vehicles, which offers SOS, auto collision notification, Road Side Assistance (RSA), dedicated phone helpline and emergency contact notification details. It also provides users with vehicle health report, maintenance alert, trip history, remote services, real-time vehicle tracking and fuel efficiency details among others.

The connected car features are currently available in 12 out of 14 models sold by Hyundai Motor in India.

The company shared that 25.7 percent of its vehicles sold in CY2024 had connected features as compared to 4.7 percent in CY2019.

Jae Wan Ryu, Function Head - Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor India, said, "Hyundai Motor India was the first OEM to introduce embedded connected car technology in India called Bluelink. HMIL is committed to India and every benchmark technology we introduce is aimed at improving the ownership experience of our customers. Bluelink has significantly uplifted user and ownership experience, transforming cars into lifestyle products, garnering appreciation of customers from across the country."

"In 2025, Hyundai further introduced the in-car payment platform, which is an evolutionary technology that transforms the vehicle into a seamless payment platform, enhancing convenience and efficiency for customers. Today, connected cars drive a significant part of Hyundai’s overall sales in India, surpassing half a million sales milestone. With the ever-increasing number of tech savvy, convenience seeking, and young car buyers, I am confident that the demand for connected car tech will rise rapidly in the coming years,” he concluded. 

Porsche India concluded 2024 on a historic high, surpassing the four-figure sales milestone for the first time with 1,006 units sold—a 10 percent year-on-year growth. This achievement highlights the success of new model launches including the Porsche 911, Panamera and the updated Cayenne introduced in late 2023.

Entering 2025, Porsche India’s line-up is fully renewed with the launch of two Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): the all-new Macan SUV and the updated Taycan sports saloon, marking a significant leap in its commitment to sustainable luxury mobility.

Commenting at the launch at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Brand Director Manolito Vujicic commented, “After a strong 2023, we are thrilled to have surpassed expectations in 2024, achieving over a thousand sales for the first time. This milestone reflects the appeal of our refreshed portfolio, our expanding dealer network, and our focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences. With new Porsche Centres in Pune and Hyderabad, and upcoming locations in Indore, Jaipur, and Lucknow, we are poised for continued success in 2025 and beyond.”

The newly launched Macan BEV is offered in three variants namely, Macan (INR 12,162,000), Macan 4S (INR 13,862,000) and the 470 kW (639PS) Macan Turbo (INR 16,862,000). The Taycan line-up expands with the Taycan 4S (INR 18,942,000) and Taycan Turbo (INR 25,262,000) with a two-wheel-drive version offering a best-in-class WLTP range of 678 km—35 percent higher than before—set to debut later.

Porsche’s iconic two-door sports cars including the 911, 718 Cayman and Boxster, saw a 95 percent surge in sales with 156 units sold. SUVs remained the dominant segment with 454 Cayennes and 259 Macans accounting for 71 percent of total volume.

“2025 is a landmark year for Porsche India. With an entirely new model range introduced in just 14 months, including the Macan BEV and updated Taycan revealed today, alongside strategic network expansion, we are confident in sustaining this momentum through 2025 and into 2026,” added Vujicic.