Skoda Auto India took the wraps off the much-awaited Kushaq and made its global debut after showcasing its concept version, Vision IN at the 2020 Auto Expo. After a series of teasers, we finally got to see, touch and sit inside the production version of this all-new SUV. The Kushaq has many firsts going for itself like it is Volkswagen Group’s first locally manufactured SUV in India and it is also the first vehicle to be rolled out under Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 Project. There’s further good news for SUV fans as Skoda will start accepting booking orders for the Kushaq from June with the first batch to be delivered in July.

The German manufacturer also squashed rumours of it planning to exit the Indian market by emphasising that the group is investing one billion euros to strengthen its presence in the Indian subcontinent and aim to achieve a combined market share of five percent by 2025. Thomas Schäfer, Skoda Auto CEO, further confirmed this by saying, “With the world premiere of the Skoda Kushaq, we are launching our model campaign on the Indian market and are fulfilling the mandate Volkswagen Group tasked us with roughly two and a half years ago when we were asked to assume responsibility for the Indian market. I would like to thank Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited and his team for what they have achieved so far. We are now focusing on a smooth market launch and the successful start of our new model while setting the course for the next steps on the Indian subcontinent. I am convinced of the country’s great growth potential. And we will make the most of it for Skoda and Volkswagen.”

Volkswagen Group’s India Project 2.0 focus is on manufacturing vehicles tailor-made for India, but more importantly, giving utmost importance to high-level localisation of parts and sharing key components with other vehicles in the group. The testimony to this is the Kushaq that’s managed to achieve 95 percent localisation level. The other thing the VW Group paid a lot of attention to was creating a platform for India and which fulfils the diverse demands of our market as well as meet the latest, stricter safety and emission requirements.

While targeting high-volume segments, the VW Group has built a new India-spec modular MQB platform, the MQB-A0-IN, based on which two SUVs including the Kushaq and two notchbacks will be launched under both the Skoda and Volkswagen brand. Again, in order to achieve a high level of localisation in India, Skoda has set up a new MQB production line at its Chakan plant near Pune.

One might ask, what’s in a name, but in Skoda’s case, it means quite a lot as it continues to follow its K & Q nomenclature. The name of the new SUV is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Kushak’, which means king or emperor.

Exterior design: The production version of the Kushaq has managed to retain quite a few of its design elements from its concept model. It showcases the typically solid and muscular design language of the Volkswagen family. The big butterfly shaped front grille with vertical slats in chrome finish and split L-shaped LED headlights with crystalline structures make the Kushaq stand out in the crowd. It sports quite a robust road presence thanks to the large air vents below the headlamps, the front bumper with a mesh finish and, of course, the skid plates in the front and rear. If that wasn’t enough to make a statement, the clean prominent lines on the bonnet and running across the shoulder line in the side and multiple creases in the rear give the Kushaq a no-nonsense image. The SUV will be available in three variants – Active, Ambition and Style – with the entry-level sporting 16-inch steel wheels while the mid-range gets 16-inch alloy wheels and top-of-the-range Style will boast two-tone 17-inch ones.

In terms of specifications, the Kushaq is 4,221 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and has a height of 1,612 mm with a ground clearance of 188 mm. Its wheelbase, on the other hand, is 2,651 mm in length, making it longer than mid-size SUV segment leader Hyundai Creta and the popular Kia Seltos. This ensures a spacious cabin for five passengers along with 385 litres of boot space.

Interiors: The Kushaq gets a multi-layered dashboard with black plastic on top then a metal band and finally a brown and a black layer. The centre of attraction is the 10-inch touchscreen and the mid and top variant comes with a touch control panel for climate control. The infotainment system gets internal memory storage, wireless Smartlink, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and My Skoda in-car connectivity app.

The Style trim is also equipped with some clever yet practical features like ventilated leather front seats, keyless entry, an electric sliding glass roof and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Skoda has given a lot of importance to practicality; as a result, the Kushaq comes with numerous storage compartments in the cabin like a glove box, centre console, additional cubby holes to store bottles and other knick-knacks.

The Kushaq gets a brand new two-spoke steering wheel and the automatic versions come with paddle shifters. It also comes with chrome finish scroll controls and buttons for audio, phone and cruise control. What was a bit of a surprise was that it came with an analogue instrument cluster and not a digital one like its cousin, the Volkswagen Taigun.

All this sounds great, but how comfortable is the cabin? Well, with big supportive seats and decent under-thigh support, both the front and the rear passengers will feel pampered. A big bonus is that passengers over six feet in height will enjoy plenty of knee and legroom.

Engine: Unlike most of its competition in the mid-size SUV segment, the Kushaq will not offer a diesel engine option. It will be available in two engine options – 1-litre three-cylinder petrol with an output of 108 bhp mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox like the Skoda Rapid. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol, on the other hand, churns out 145 bhp and will be available in either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Safety: The Kushaq comes fully loaded with safety features like electronic stability control, multi-collision brakes, six airbags including front side airbags, Hill-hold control, ISOFIX child seats and the list goes on. (MT)

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Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

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Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

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Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.

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