Škoda Auto has officially announced that its highly anticipated Kylaq will make its world debut in India on 6 November 2024. The launch of the Kylaq will see Škoda Auto entering a ‘New Era’ in India, which is the most important market for the brand outside Europe.

The Kylaq is powered by the tried-and-true 1.0 TSI engine, which is paired to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The engine generates 85 kW and 178 Nm of torque. The car uses the same MQB-A0-IN platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. These two vehicles have previously received a complete 5-star rating in Global NCAP testing for adults and children. The Kylaq comes standard with over 25 active and passive safety features, including six airbags, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, Motor Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Passenger airbag deactivation, Multi Collision Braking and ISOFIX seats, among many others.

The Kylaq has been tested throughout 800,000 kilometres of Indian terrain, including urban, highway, hilly and rugged routes. This all-new compact SUV has been tested in temperatures ranging from -10 to +85 degrees Celsius and at elevations ranging from sea level to 3,000 metres above sea level. To assure complete monsoon readiness and optimum weather resistance, 100 random samples of the Kylaq were subjected to 25-30 litres per minute/square metre of water at an angle of up to 16 degrees. This guarantees that no water enters the Kylaq under heavy monsoon conditions. The Kylaq has also undergone a vehicle shaking test to verify that the interiors stay silent and rattle-free across all road surfaces. To make sure there is no discolouration, distortion or loss of functionality in intense sunlight or other environmental conditions, the Kylaq has also been exposed to open weather for two years.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “I’m proud to present Kylaq – the first compact SUV from Škoda India. Kylaq is designed and made with high levels of localisation, thereby strengthening our ‘Make in India’ commitment. It represents the Group’s DNA of driving dynamic, safety and comfort, along with the practical features desired by our value conscious customers. I’m sure the product will resonate with Indian customers’ mindset. Kylaq, designed and engineered in India, for India, will be a gamechanger.”

Jiří Dytrych, Head of Product Management, Škoda Auto, shared, “It is a moment of great pride for me and our team to see the Kylaq getting closer to making its world debut in India. The MQB-A0-IN was conceived to be a highly flexible, modular and versatile platform. You all know the Kushaq and Slavia to be much larger, above 4-metre cars. Both these cars have been pivotal in the growing focus on having safer cars in India. At the development stage itself, this platform was conceived to also accommodate an under 4-metre car like the Kylaq and has the same spirit of unmatched driving dynamics, leading safety and proven quality. We take safety a notch higher with a best-in-segment hot-formed steel for the front crash module, to ensure best cabin safety. The key features of the car are always space and comfort for the driver and passengers. The Kylaq will offer first-in-class six-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with ventilation function. The Kylaq will lead our presence, in the fastest-growing and most competitive segment in India.”

Jan Bures, Executive Director – Sales, Marketing and Digital, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The Kylaq is just around the corner from making its debut in the world. It has been developed and even named keeping in mind evolving customer trends and aspirations in India. The under 4m segment makes up nearly 30 percent of the marketshare in the Indian passenger car sector. And the Kylaq, we believe, is adept at tapping this segment. It will also take us to new markets among tier 3 and 4 centres and bring new customers into our fold. With the response to this pre-production version, I will say with comfort and confidence that the Kylaq is on track to make its debut soon and will enable us to achieve further growth and inroads into the Indian market.”

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, shared, “Expanding our portfolio is a key part of our growth strategy, which will enable us to welcome more customers into the Škoda family. We committed to adding a new SUV – Kylaq -- to our offerings, and we are well on track for our biggest-ever launch in India. This is a huge milestone in our India journey and will enable us to double our addressable market share. From the teasers shared, you can tell that this will be a stunning-looking SUV. The Kylaq is now undergoing the final set of testing, and as a result, we cannot reveal the car in all its glory, yet. The Kylaq is the car that will democratise European technology in India. Among other things, it has over 25 active and passive safety features standard across all its variants, and about 30 in specific variants. The Kylaq is almost ready for its debut and will lead the charts when it comes to safety and dynamics.”

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Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its sales performance for May 2026, recording a 118 percent YoY growth in domestic sales, albeit a low-year-ago base.

The company reported 2,948 units wholesales last month, which also marked its third consecutive month of YoY growth, signalling sustained sales momentum in the Indian market.

Interestingly, the company’s total sales for May 2026 came at 7,971 units, which includes 2,948 units in the domestic market and 5,023 units shipped to international markets during the month.

The company said its domestic sales trajectory was driven by customer interest across Nissan's updated India lineup, including the Gravite and Magnite SUVs. It is currently preparing for the upcoming World Premiere of the Nissan Tekton, which is part of Nissan's broader strategy to diversify its product portfolio and expand its network footprint across India.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “Our third consecutive month of year-on-year domestic sales growth is an encouraging reflection of the trust customers continue to place in Nissan. The response to the all-new Nissan Gravite, along with the continued strength of the Nissan Magnite, including the growing adoption of our CNG offerings, gives us confidence in our India strategy. As we gear up for the World Premiere of the Nissan Tekton, our focus remains on expanding our network footprint, enhancing accessibility, and delivering a stronger customer experience across the country.”

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its wholesales of 59,790 units for May 2026 across its domestic and international operations.

This marks a 42 percent YoY growth compared to the 42,040 units delivered during the same month last year. The company's strong monthly performance was highlighted by significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoptions and an increase in official retail registrations.

According to VAHAN registration data, Tata Motors has further consolidated its position as the number two manufacturer in the Indian passenger vehicle market.

Last month, the company sold 59,090 units in the domestic market, as against 41,557 units a year ago. Exports came at 700 units, up 45 percent YoY, as compared to 483 units last year.

Interestingly, electric vehicle sales (domestic and export) at 10,517 units reached a record high, as compared to 5,685 units in May 2025.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has recorded its highest-ever May wholesale volume since entering the market, delivering 27,586 units.

This represents a 23.6 percent YoY growth compared to the 22,315 units sold during the same month last year.

The sales volume was led by the Seltos SUV, which has maintained monthly wholesales above the 10,000-unit threshold since its launch in January. The SUV holds a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating. Furthermore, the Sonet C-SUV remained a contributor supported by expanded automatic transmission options across its petrol and diesel variants.

Additional sales momentum was driven by the newer iterations in the lineup, including the Carens Clavis, the all-electric Clavis EV, and the updated MY26 Syros. The Syros model saw an encouraging consumer response following revisions to its variant hierarchy and the broader availability of automatic gearboxes.

To lower entry barriers for its electric vehicles, Kia India has deployed a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) procurement channel. This operational initiative alters ownership dynamics by separating the upfront vehicle acquisition cost from the battery asset.

At present, Kia India's sales and service operations are supported by a domestic retail footprint that includes 891 corporate touchpoints distributed across 402 cities. This network handles sales, maintenance, and ownership support in both urban and emerging regional markets. Furthermore, the company operates 130 Certified Pre-Owned vehicle outlets to manage trades, customer vehicle exchanges, and residual value transactions.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Our highest-ever May sales performance reflects the strong alignment of our product portfolio with evolving customer preferences across segments. The continued strong demand for the new Seltos along with Sonet, coupled with the encouraging response to the Carens Clavis, Clavis EV and the MY26 Syros, has helped us sustain our growth momentum. At the same time, recent initiatives like our Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) program are playing an important role in making electric mobility more accessible and practical for customers. As we continue to strengthen our presence across the country, our focus remains on delivering innovative products, premium ownership experiences and technologies that are relevant to the evolving needs of Indian consumers.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its wholesale sales of 33,128 units in May 2026, up 7 percent YoY, as compared to 30,864 units sold in May 2025.

The wholesales include 30,574 units in the domestic market, up 4 percent YoY, as compared to 29,280 units, while exports came at 2,554 units, up 61 percent YoY, as compared to 1,584 units a year ago.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Our sales performance in May 2026 reflects the positive market acceptance of Toyota’s offerings and overall ownership experience. The sustained demand across our product portfolio highlights a growing preference for quality, reliability and advanced technologies. This month marked a significant milestone as we crossed 300,000 Strong Hybrid Electric vehicle (SHEV) sales in India, underscoring the growing acceptance of SHEV technology and cleaner mobility solutions. This achievement further strengthens our commitment to advancing sustainable mobility through a multi-pathway approach. We will continue to focus on innovation that aligns with evolving customer needs while delivering long-term value and contributing meaningfully to India’s transition towards carbon neutrality.”

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