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)

Mumbai-based automotive major Mahindra Group has rejigged its top leadership team to further strengthen the company’s market position.

The company has announced that Hemant Sikka, currently President of Farm Equipment Sector will take over the role of MD & CEO of Mahindra Logistics. He will succeed Ram Swaminathan who has stepped down to pursue other professional interests.

Furthermore, Veejay Nakra, currently President Automotive Division, has been appointed the President for Farm Equipment Business (FEB), which is among Mahindra’s large and profitable businesses with a ROCE of over 60 percent. The company sees huge opportunity to further grow the business and expand globally. He will continue to report to Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO, Auto & Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra .

In addition, R Velusamy, currently, President Automotive Technology and Product Development, will take on the role of President of the Automotive Business (AB). He will be tasked to prepare the Automotive Business with technology innovation and lead opportunities for growth in domestic as well as global markets.

Mahindra has announced that it will now integrate the SUV and LCV (less than 3.5 tonne) business under one leadership to make the business more agile and collaborative, from engineering products to faster time to market. He will also report to Jejurikar.

Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “These leadership changes ensure that we have strong, proven leaders at the helm of our key businesses. Their experience will enable us to drive significant growth and create greater value for our customers and shareholders. We thank Ram for his contributions to the company, and wish Hemant, Veejay, and Velu the very best for the journey ahead.”

Hyundai Motor India, a leading manufacturer of passenger vehicles in the country, has has announced that every second vehicle it sold in India came with a sunroof.

The company shared that in FY2025, 53.2 percent of the Hyundai vehicles sold in the country was equipped with sunroof, what’s more the share of SUVs also increased to 68.5 percent from the earlier 63.2 percent a year ago.

At present, sunroof is offered as an optional feature in 12 out of 14 models in the Hyundai Motor India portfolio, which includes the Exter, Venue, Creta, Alcazar, Tucson Verna, Aura, Grand i10 NIOS, i20 and the Ioniq 5.

On the other hand, the demand for ADAS-equipped models grew to 14.3 percent from 6.7 percent a year ago.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “FY2024-25 has been a landmark year for Hyundai Motor India. The fact that two out of every third vehicle sold by us in India was an SUV is a testament to our deep understanding of Indian customers and our commitment to delivering innovation, safety and style. The doubling of ADAS variant contribution and growing popularity of sunroof-equipped models reflects the rising aspirations of our customers and their readiness to embrace global technologies. We shall continue to march forward with a focus on customer delight, offering products that are future-ready, feature-rich, and engineered for India.”

German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has expanded its footprint in the southern market with the inauguration of three new state-of-the-art facilities across Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reinforcing its customer-centric ‘Go to Customer’ strategy.

In Bengaluru, the luxury carmaker opened a sprawling 2S (Sales & Service) facility with a Delivery Bay by long-standing partner Sundaram Motors on International Airport Road. The 47,000 sqft facility, built to Mercedes-Benz’s global MAR20X luxury retail standards, features 10 dedicated service bays, a Premium Aero Hub and a Mercedes Cafe. It also offers fast EV charging and quick repair zones, enhancing convenience and sustainability.

Hyderabad saw the addition of two new 2S facilities. Mahavir Motors inaugurated a 39,000 sqft outlet in a high-net-worth residential area near the city’s growing IT corridor. The facility, equipped with 19 service bays, combines digital interfaces with personalised service zones and eco-friendly features.

Landmark Cars also launched a new 12,000 sqft service centre in Hyderabad with six service bays. The facility offers specialised vehicle servicing, body paint work and Premier Express service for priority customers.

These openings mark a significant investment in customer engagement and service infrastructure in key southern metros, aligning with rising aspirations and demand for luxury vehicles in India.

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate 3 state-of-the-art luxury facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reaffirming our commitment to delivering the best customer experience and deepening our presence in these key markets. These modern facilities reflect Mercedes-Benz’s vision of offering a world-class luxury retail experience, backed by digital innovation, modern luxury design and personalised customer consultation. We continue to invest in our luxury retail experience, with sharp focus on elevating customer experiences by creating new standards in luxury automotive retail. We are creating desire for the brand not only in emerging markets, but also in key metropolises like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where Mercedes-Benz has a strong brand presence.”

Czech automaker Skoda Auto India, which completes its silver jubilee in India, has launched its all-new Kodiaq premium SUV at prices starting INR 4.68 million.

Powered by a 2.0 TSI engine, the Kodiaq produces 150kW and 320Nm of torque, which is distributed to both axles through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic. Based on the MQB37 platform, the Kodiaq SUV is available in the Sportline and Selection L&K in seven-seat configurations. The company shared that the SUV is being assembled in India at the brand’s facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The Kodiaq comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 14.86 kmpl by ARAI.

The all-new Skoda Kodiaq grows 59mm longer than its predecessor, now measuring 4,758mm in length, 1,864mm in width and 1,679mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,791mm. Its ground clearance increases to 155mm when fully laden. It continues to retain its three-row layout yet manages to offer 281 litres of cargo space with all seats upright, 786 litres with the third row folded, and 1,976 litres with both rear rows stowed. Externally, the SUV boasts a bold redesign, featuring LED Beam Crystallinium headlamps with a Welcome Effect and a front grille integrated with a horizontal light strip.

A red strip connecting the tail lamps accentuates its width, and six exterior colour options are available, including Moon White and Velvet Red, with exclusive Bronx Gold for the L&K and Steel Grey for the Sportline.

On the inside, the Kodiaq elevates luxury with two distinct themes: a sporty all-black interior for the Sportline and premium Cognac leather upholstery for the L&K trim. A 32.77-cm infotainment system and Smart Dials with tactile controls streamline access to HVAC, audio and drive modes. Ergonomic upgrades include a steering wheel-mounted gear selector and a rear tablet holder. The Ergo front seats feature advanced pneumatic massage, while an acoustic package and noise-reducing windows ensure a tranquil cabin.

The Kodiaq is equipped with nine airbags, complemented by a sliding panoramic sunroof and a 725W Canton sound system with 13 speakers.

Skoda Auto India is also offering a standard warranty of five-year/125,000km (whichever earlier), along with a 10-year complimentary Road-Side Assistance on offer.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “In March, we recorded our biggest ever monthly sales in India, driven by the Kylaq launch, and supported by the Kushaq and Slavia. This is one of many new records we aim to set this year. In line with our product offensive strategy, the launch of the all-new Kodiaq showcases the other end of our product spectrum with Škoda’s luxury and technology prowess. The Kodiaq has now grown to be an important legacy name for us like the Octavia and Superb. The Kodiaq offers the ultimate luxury and handling for city roads and also packs in versatile all-terrain capabilities.”