In the wake of good demand for its Kodiaq full-size and flagship SUV in India, Skoda Auto has decided to increase its dispatch to 720 units per quarter through the CKD (parts and components vehicle) route. Considered as an alternative to the Toyota Fortuner SUV and a plusher one that, the Kodiaq 4x4 SUV is available at a starting price of INR 3.79 million ex-showroom.
Compared to the Fortuner, whose 4x4 AT models are priced close to INR 4.5 million ex-showroom approximately, the Kodiaq, with the capacity to seat seven people comes only in the petrol guise. The diesel engine option was dropped in 2020 when the country transitioned to BS VI emission norms.
Treated to a face-lift this year, the full-size SUV is powered by a 190 PS, 2.-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine of the Volkswagen lineage. Claimed to be 4.2 percent more efficient than earlier, the vehicle now features door-edge protectors that automatically reveal themselves when the doors open, protecting the door edge from dings and scratches. The rear spoiler gets additional finlets to aid airflow and improve aerodynamics. The rear passengers get a lounge step to rest their foot, and outer headrests in the second row, furthering the luxury and comfort quotient.
Petr Šolc, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said, “The Kodiaq was our first ever foray into the full-size SUV fold, and it has been a resounding success internationally and in India. Though premium, it is a high value luxury 4x4 that has seen much demand from Indian consumers because of the complete off-road luxury package it offers for the family. The increased allocation will ensure that the Kodiaq can now be enjoyed by more SUV customers who demand the best there is in terms of safety, luxury and value with off-road ability.”
Based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform which is also shared by the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and SEAT Tarraco, the Kodiaq is a monocoque construction. On the dynamics front, it features dynamic chassis control (which enables the suspension to be raised or lowered by 15 mm and enhance all-terrain abilities with an off-road button) and driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual and Snow – which influence dynamics and performance.
The top variant, Laurin & Klement offers enhanced rear seat luxury with stone beige leather dual tone upholstery and 18-inch stylish alloys. The SportLine variant is driver-oriented with all black suedia interiors, a 3-spoke flat-bottom sport steering wheel, more side bolstering in the seats, integrated headrests and expanded shoulder support sport seats for enthusiastic cornering.
The 12-way adjustable electric seats in the front are available with in-built cooling and heating in the L&K variant. Other than the stylish three or two-spoke steering wheel, ambient lighting, Canton 625-Watt 12-speaker audio system with a subwoofer, windows that can be remotely shut or opened, and a panoramic sunroof, the Kodiaq SUV is equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen in-built navigation and full connectivity via the MyŠKODA ConnectED App.
Flaunting a full-digital instrument panel, the vehicle comes with a five-star score for Euro NCAP. It is fitted with 9 airbags as standard. Offering adaptive front LED headlights; automatic dimming and defogging across all transparent surfaces; electronic, mechanical and hydraulic brake assist; stability control, and multi-collision braking and park assist with handsfree parking, the full-size SUV presents good storage space in the form of double dashboard storage, under steering storage and a jumbo box. The top variant gets Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a 360-degree camera as standard.
Tata Motors To Gift Sierra SUVs To Women's World Cup Winning Team
- By MT Bureau
- November 05, 2025
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has announced it will present the Indian Women’s Cricket Team with the first lot of the soon-to-be-launched Tata Sierra SUV following their victory at the ICC Women's World Cup. The Tata Sierra is slated to be launched on 25th November.
The company will gift the top-end model of the Sierra to each team member as part of its salute to the team’s journey and contribution to the country.
Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has made the entire nation proud with their extraordinary performance and remarkable win. Their journey stands as a true testament to determination and the power of belief, qualities that inspire every Indian. At Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, we are privileged to present these legends with another legend, The Tata Sierra. This is our salute to their spirit and the pride they have brought to the nation – Two legends, One spirit, Infinite inspiration.”
Maruti Suzuki India Crosses 30 Million Unit Sales Milestone
- By MT Bureau
- November 05, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new milestone by crossing the 30-million-unit sales milestone in the domestic market.
The new benchmark was attained by the company over a course of 42 years, with the first 10 million unit sales taking 28 years and 2 months to achieve.
The 20 million unit sales took 7 years and 5 months, while the recent milestone took just 6 years and 4 months.
Interestingly, the entry-level hatchback Alto was the most preferred model in the country, with over 4.7 million units sold, followed by Wagon R with 3.4 million units and the sporty Swift with 3.2 million units.
The Brezza and Fronx SUVs also played an instrumental role in contributing to the sales milestone, being featured among the top 10 models sold in the country.
It was on 14th December 1983, Maruti Suzuki India delivered its first model, the iconic Maruti 800, to its first customer.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “When I look at the length and breadth of India and think that 3 crore customers have placed their trust in Maruti Suzuki to realise their dream of mobility, it fills me with humility and gratitude. Yet, with car penetration at approximately 33 vehicles per 1,000 people, we know our journey is far from over. We will continue to make every possible effort to bring the joy of mobility to as many people as we can, while also be an asset to both the economy and the environment at the same time.”
Sharad Agarwal Is Tesla India’s First Business Head
- By MT Bureau
- November 04, 2025
American electric vehicle maker Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former Chief Business Officer of Classic Legends, as its new business head, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The report further stated that Agarwal joined the EV maker a week ago and is tasked to drive sales for Tesla in India, which as per industry observers, has not performed as per the company’s expectations.
Agarwal, an automotive industry veteran, had begun his career with TVS Motor Co as Area Sales Manager in December 2002, before joining Mahindra First Choice Wheels as its Business Head for North and Eastern region in March 2007.
It was in January 2013, he moved to Audi India as the head of Sales, before taking over as the head of Lamborghini India in April 2016, where he spent almost 9 years, before joining Classic Legends.
During his tenure at Lamborghini, the Italian super luxury car maker saw its dealerships across India achieved a Return on Sales (RoS) of more than 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for the automotive business in the country. He also grew India’s ranking for the automaker as the third market globally in terms of PR visibility in 2021.
He also expanded Lamborghini India’s reach to over 60 cities, with sales volumes from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributing more than 25 percent of the total.
Tesla, which formally started deliveries in September 2025 with its first dealership in Mumbai and the second facility in Delhi, has till date delivered 114 vehicles, of the estimated 600-plus bookings.
File photo for representational purposes only.
Mahindra & Mahindra Reports INR 36 Billion Net Profit For Q2 FY2026
- By MT Bureau
- November 04, 2025
Mumbai-headquartered business conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2026 with consolidated Revenue reaching INR 461 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY growth.
The consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 36 billion, a 16 percent increase YoY. The company stated that, excluding specific one-time impacts, PAT growth was 28 percent YoY.
Mahindra’s Auto business reported sales of 262,000 vehicles, up 13 percent, which includes around 146,000 SUV sales. This translated to a revenue of INR 271 billion, up 25 percent YoY, while net profit came at INR 15 billion, up 8 percent YoY.
On the other hand, the farm sector reported its highest ever Q2 market share at 43 percent with sales of 123,000 units, up 32 percent YoY. The revenue came at INR 102 billion, up 25 percent, while consolidated net profit came at INR 11 billion, up 45 percent YoY.
Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “We are pleased with the strong execution and solid performance delivered across the group in Q2 FY2026. Auto and Farm sustained their leadership with consistent gains in market share and profitability. TechM is progressing well on its transformation journey. MMFSL achieved a 45 percent PAT growth and remains committed to quality growth and digital transformation. Our Growth Gems are steadily advancing towards their ambitious goals, reinforcing our long-term value creation potential.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Strong performance of our Auto and Farm businesses continues in Q2 FY2026 reinforcing our leadership position, with a gain of 390 bps YoY in SUV revenue share, and 100 bps YoY in LCV (< 3.5T) market share. In Tractors, we gained 50 bps YoY to reach 43 percent market share. Our Auto Standalone PBIT margin (excl. e-SUV Contract Mfg.) improved by 80 bps to 10.3 percent and core Tractor PBIT margins improved by 190 bps to 20.6 percent.”
Amarjyoti Barua, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, “Our solid Q2 consolidated results reflects the strength of our diversified portfolio. We continue to deliver on our strategic priorities. We had strong cash generation in the first half, delivering over INR 100 billion of operating cash flow. We remain committed to sustainable growth and value creation.”
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