Skoda Auto India has launched its much-anticipated SUV Kushaq in India. The Kushaq will be available at a starting price of INR 10.49 lakh (ex-showroom) nationwide.

The new SUV is the company's first model based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. It is the first car developed under INDIA 2.0 project by Skoda explicitly designed for the Indian consumer needs and its export markets. It was first showcased as the VISION IN concept at the Delhi Auto Expo in February 2020.

Interior and exterior
The Skoda Kushaq is available in three trims – Active, Ambition and Style – in 5 colour options: Honey Orange, Tornado Red, Candy White, Reflex Silver and Carbon Steel. The SUV is 4,225 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and has a height of 1,612 mm. The SUV has a long wheelbase of 2,651 mm and a minimum laden ground clearance of 155 mm.

The Kushaq features a central, free-standing infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel. There’s up to 26.2 litres of interior storage space in total along with a boot capacity of 385 litres that can be increased to 1,405 litres by folding down the rear seats.

From Ambition onwards, the ambient lighting illuminates the dashboard and door handles. The door handles, handbrake locking button and air vents are chrome-plated and the gearstick knob is upholstered in leather. The Style variant includes front ventilated black leather seats upholstered in perforated grey design and black leatherette armrests on the centre console and the doors.

Engine
The new SUV is powered by TSI technology with two engine options – 1.0l and 1.5l TSI. The three-cylinder 1.0l TSI produces an output of 85 kW (115 PS) via a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder 1.5l TSI engine churns out 110 kW (150 PS) via a 6-speed manual gearbox or can be coupled with a 7-speed DSG. The 1.5l TSI engine also features the segment-first active cylinder technology (ACT) for better fuel efficiency.

Comfort, connectivity and safety
The Kushaq comes with an array of features related to comfort, connectivity and safety. The Ambition and Style trim levels gets a 25.4 cm colour touchscreen, whereas the lower trim gets a 17.78 cm touchscreen. The 25.4 cm infotainment also features a dual tuner, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an external microphone for hands-free phone calls, valet mode and Wireless SmartLink.

There are six speakers – two front high-tone tweeters, two front bass speakers and two wide-range speakers in the rear – to take care of your audio needs. The Style trim takes it a notch higher with a rear subwoofer in spare-wheel well. There are two USB-C ports in the front centre console for connecting data and charging as well as two at the rear for charging mobile devices. The Style trim also provides wireless charging function. The SUV also features touch-controlled climatronic with air-care function in Ambition and Style variant.

On the safety front, the Kushaq comes with Electronic Stability Control as standard, along with rollover protection (ROPS) and multi-collision braking (MKB). Other safety features include hill-hold control, tyre pressure monitoring system,  up to six airbags, three-point seat belts, height-adjustable headrests and parking sensors as standard. Ambition and upwards also get rear view camera with static guide lines. Brake assist features include ABS (anti-lock braking), EBD (electronic brake force distribution), EDS with XDS and XDS + (electronic differential lock – advanced differential lock), HBV (hydraulic brake-boosting) and BSW (brake disc wiping).

MyŠKODA Connect
The SUV is equipped with the India developed ‘MyŠKODA Connect’ app that provides a safe, convenient and smart driving experience to stay connected with the car. MyŠKODA Connect features real- time car tracking, driving behaviour analysis, trip analysis and insights, and emergency features such as roadside assistance and SOS.

Skoda Kushaq price summary (in INR)

Bookings are open on Skoda online sales portal as well as the 100-plus sales touch points across 85 cities and deliveries will start on 12 July. (MT)

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Renault Group-owned European car brand Dacia has achieved a significant milestone with the rollout of the 100,000^th Bigster just one year after its production began at the Mioveni facility in Romania. This impressive volume highlights the immediate and substantial demand for the brand's latest model. Even prior to its full market launch, the vehicle garnered over 13,000 pre-orders, signalling strong early interest in its proposition of a value-oriented, family-sized SUV.

The model swiftly translated this initial promise into market leadership, becoming the best-selling C-SUV to retail customers across Europe in the second half of 2025. This commercial success is mirrored in the United Kingdom, where close to 5,000 orders have been recorded. British buyers have shown a distinct preference for the efficient hybrid 155 powertrain and the generously specified Journey trim level, with Indigo Blue being the colour of choice.

Beyond sales figures, the Bigster's impact has been validated by influential industry awards, most recently at the 2026 What Car? Car of the Year Awards, where it was hailed as a definitive value champion. Designed to challenge the status quo, the Dacia Bigster, starting from GBP 25,215, successfully delivers a robust, well-equipped and practical solution for families, firmly establishing its successful position in the competitive automotive landscape.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has released its unaudited financial results for Q3 FY2026 and nine months ending 31 December 2025.

The company reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of INR 123.44 billion for Q3, representing a 6.3 percent increase YoY. Revenue for the quarter reached INR 1,797.35 billion, up 8 percent compared to the same period last year. EBITDA stood at INR 2,018.3 billion, a 7.6 percent rise, supported by festive demand and the implementation of GST 2.0.

The company stated that the domestic demand was supported by wholesale volumes increasing 5 percent QoQ. The Hyundai Creta recorded sales of over 200,000 units in the 2025 calendar year, while the new Venue model has received nearly 80,000 bookings to date.

Hyundai Motor India also entered the commercial mobility segment with the Prime HB and SD taxi models. Exports grew by 21 percent YoY in Q3 FY26, accounting for 25 percent of the total sales mix.

For the nine-month period, EBITDA reached INR 6,632.5 billion, a 3.3 percent increase. EBITDA margins expanded to 12.8 percent, up from 12.5 percent in the previous year, despite costs related to capacity stabilisation and commodity prices.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, said, “The third quarter performance underscores our resilience and strong execution of 'Quality of Growth' strategy, marked by healthy growth in volumes, revenue and profitability. Notably on a year-to-date basis, EBITDA margins expanded to 12.8 percent as against 12.5 percent last year, supported by our efforts towards improving sales mix and prudent cost control measures. As we move ahead, the robust January’26 sales number gives us great momentum towards a healthy 2026.”

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Stellantis-owned Jeep has announced its Strategic Plan Jeep 2.0, positioning India as a central hub for its operations in the Asia Pacific region. The plan focuses on localisation, manufacturing depth, and export expansion from the company's facility in Ranjangaon, Pune.

As part of the strategy, Jeep intends to increase localisation levels to 90 percent, up from the current 65–70 percent. This move is aimed at strengthening supply-chain resilience and cost competitiveness. The Ranjangaon plant, which has an annual capacity of 160,000 vehicles, currently exports the Compass, Meridian, and Commander to markets including Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Plans are underway to expand exports to Africa and North America.

The company plans to introduce a new vehicle lineup in India starting from 2027. In the interim, Jeep will maintain its current portfolio through refreshes and special editions. To support its customers, the brand has introduced the Confidence 7 programme, which includes a buyback scheme, pre-maintenance packages, and extended warranties.

At present, Jeep operates over 85 sales and service touchpoints across 70 cities in India. The automaker stated that in 2025, the Wrangler Willys 41 limited edition sold out within seven days. The company is also focusing on its owner community, which has reached 100,000 members, through experiential platforms and brand clubs.

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, “Jeep’s 85-year legacy is built on authenticity and adventure. Strategic Plan Jeep 2.0 lays out how we will sharpen our product strategy and strengthen the customer experience year after year, driven by deeper localisation, global product alignment, expanding our vehicle offerings, and programs that deliver real value. We are equally focused on taking care of our existing customers, ensuring they receive the support, service and confidence they expect from Jeep. Success in India demands resilience and long-term commitment and we are investing with that clarity to ensure Jeep remains a brand of pride and desirability.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its financial results for Q3 FY2026.

The company reported revenue of INR 475.344 billion, as against INR 368.02 billion last year, net profit came at INR 37.94 billion, as against INR 36.59 billion last year. It is to be noted that the net profit was impacted for Q3 FY2026 was impacted due to a one-time provision of INR 5,939 million relating to new Labour Codes.

During the period, the company achieved its highest quarterly domestic sales of 564,669 units, an increase of 97,676 units over the previous year. Total sales reached 667,769 units, which included 103,100 units in exports. This performance was supported by a recovery in the car market following GST reform, with the small car segment in the 18 percent GST bracket contributing significantly to the volume increase.

For the nine-month period from April to December 2025, the company recorded its highest sales volume, net sales and net profit. Total sales volume reached 1,746,504 units, with domestic sales at 1,435,945 units and exports at 310,559 units. Net sales for this period increased to INR 1,242 billion, while net profit grew to INR 1,085 billion.

Financial statements for the period have been restated following the amalgamation of Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) with MSIL. This process took effect from 1 April 2025. The company continues to monitor market conditions as it manages its manufacturing and sales operations.

The recovery in the car market was led by the small car segment. Sales growth in this category accounted for 68,328 units of the total domestic increase. The company remains focused on domestic and export markets to maintain its sales volumes.

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