Skoda Auto India is making waves at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in New Delhi, held from January 17 to 22. With an impressive showcase of eight models, Skoda’s pavilion in Hall 3-01 at Bharat Mandapam exemplifies its century-old global legacy of innovation, performance and its steadfast commitment to sustainable mobility.

The Skoda Kylaq, the brand’s first-ever sub-4-metre SUV designed specifically for India, is a highlight of the expo. The Kylaq in Olive Gold seamlessly combines contemporary design with cutting-edge engineering. Powered by a reliable 1.0 TSI engine with options for a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, it is available in four variants and seven colours. Its robust safety features, earning it a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, underscore Skoda’s emphasis on passenger protection.

Skoda’s all-new Kodiaq stands as a testament to luxury and versatility. This seven-seater 4x4 SUV combines spacious interiors with refined driving dynamics and off-road capabilities, making it an ideal choice for those seeking comfort and adventure in one package. Equally impressive is the fourth-generation Skoda Superb, a sedan that redefines elegance and sophistication. With its premium features and spacious interiors, the Superb continues to set benchmarks in the executive sedan category.

The facelifted Skoda Octavia vRS, a performance icon, returns to the spotlight with its thrilling agility and dynamic driving experience. Renowned for its speed and precision, it remains a favourite among enthusiasts. Adding to Skoda’s innovative line-up is the Elroq, an entry-level global EV that balances sleek design, practicality and environmental consciousness, positioning itself as a promising addition to Europe’s EV market.

Skoda’s Vision 7S, a futuristic concept car, offers a glimpse into the future of mobility. This vehicle embodies Skoda’s Modern Solid design language and showcases sustainability and advanced technology. It represents the brand’s commitment to driving electric mobility forward with intuitive and eco-friendly innovations.

The Skoda pavilion at the expo is designed to engage visitors through four unique zones. The Safety Zone highlights Skoda’s dedication to passenger protection, a core pillar of its engineering philosophy. The Power Zone celebrates the brand’s racing heritage with simulators and soundscapes, while the Sustainability Zone underscores Skoda’s eco-friendly initiatives and evolving product line-up. Finally, the Luxury Zone showcases Skoda’s craftsmanship, offering a blend of style and superior comfort.

An accessorised version of the Kylaq is also on display, featuring over 30 bespoke additions. From UV-protect sun blinds to premium 7D spill-proof mats, this version sets a new standard for personalisation, catering to the unique preferences of Indian consumers.

As Skoda Auto celebrates 130 years globally and 25 years in India, the brand reinforces its dedication to combining European engineering excellence with the evolving needs of the Indian market. By integrating innovation and sustainability, Škoda continues to pave the way for a greener and more dynamic future in mobility.

Speaking on the company’s participation, Brand Director Petr Janeba said, “The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is a remarkable opportunity for us to demonstrate our evolving global and Indian portfolio of ICE and EV vehicles. India is the second leg we stand on globally outside Europe and is a key market for us. From the all-new Kylaq to our insight into the future with the Vision 7S, all our models showcased at Bharat Mobility Expo focus on delivering innovation along with European design and performance for the ever-important Indian market. The technology and design from these products are going to be the key to our further expansion in India and our endeavour to attract newer customers in the Škoda Auto India family.”

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Honda Cars India has partnered with CSB Bank to provide vehicle financing schemes for customers across India. The agreement enables buyers to access car loans with interest rate options on purchases of the Honda City, Honda Amaze, Honda Elevate and Honda ZR-V through participating Honda dealerships and CSB Bank branches.

The partnership encompasses financial products including loans for new vehicles, pre-owned car financing, refinancing options and future electric vehicle financing support, subject to lending criteria and customer eligibility. The initiative targets buyers in semi-urban and rural markets ahead of the festive season.

As per the agreement, CSB Bank has been empanelled as a preferred financing partner for Honda Cars India. The two organisations will execute joint promotional campaigns across dealership locations, bank branches, and digital platforms, overseen by a joint coordination team.

Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “With this partnership, we aim to make vehicle ownership more accessible and affordable for our customers right from day one. By combining Honda’s strong dealership network with CSB Bank’s convenient financing solutions, we can offer a simple, quick and hassle-free car-buying experience. This collaboration is an extension of our efforts to provide easy and accessible finance options while enhancing the overall purchase and ownership experience for our customers. We look forward to enabling more customers to bring home their dream Honda this festive season, while expanding access to finance across semi-urban and rural markets.”

Narendra Dixit, Head - Retail Banking, CSB Bank, said, “Finance plays a critical role in enabling customers to turn their aspiration of owning a vehicle into reality. As an important component of the automotive ecosystem, financing needs to be convenient, accessible and tailored to the diverse needs of customers. At CSB Bank, we see significant potential in building strong partnerships across the automotive value chain and leveraging our financing capabilities to make vehicle ownership more accessible. Our partnership with Honda Cars India is an important step in that direction, enabling us to bring our customer-centric financing solutions closer to customers across markets, including semi-urban and rural India.”

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Tata Motors, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched the Aeris, a replacement for its Tigor sub-four-metre compact sedan, with introductory prices starting from INR 529,000 for petrol variants and INR 629,000 for CNG variants. The Aeris will be available in five trim levels comprising Smart, Pure, Pure+, Creative and Accomplished.

Tata Motors stated that the Aeris will be sold to retail consumers, while fleet operators will continue to receive the older Tigor model under the Xpres brand name.

The exterior of the Aeris maintains a notchback roofline, accompanied by a lower grille, LED headlamps with integrated daytime running lights, LED tail-lamps, wheel arch cladding, chrome door handles, a dual-tone roof and a shark fin antenna. The car is available in six paint options: Nitro Crimson, Dandeli Drizzle, Pure Grey, Daytona Grey, Dune Glow, and Pristine White.

The sedan retains a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Revotron engine in petrol and CNG formats. In petrol specification, the engine generates 86 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). The CNG variant produces 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm of torque, offered with the same transmission options. The CNG configuration employs a twin-cylinder tank design to preserve 419 litres of boot space. The petrol tank capacity measures 35 litres, while the CNG system features a 70-litre water-capacity tank.

Cabin equipment includes ventilated front leatherette seats, a digital video recorder dashcam, a blind-view monitor, a dual smartphone deck with wireless charging, and an AMT rotary gear selector with paddle shifters. Infotainment is delivered through a 26.03 cm touchscreen paired with a 12.7 cm digital instrument display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker audio setup. Additional interior features consist of automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, and 65-watt USB Type-C charging ports.

The Aeris measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,684 mm in width, and 1,532 mm in height, with a 2,450 mm wheelbase. The chassis uses an independent MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and a semi-independent closed-profile twist beam with dual-path struts at the rear. Braking systems consist of front discs and rear drums, with wheel sizes ranging from 14-inch steel wheels on base models to 15-inch alloy wheels on higher trims.

Safety equipment fitted across all variants includes six airbags, an Electronic Stability Program suite, ABS, hill-hold assist, a 360-degree camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Isofix child-seat anchors. The CNG variants incorporate an electronic control unit, direct CNG ignition startup, leak detection sensors, and reinforced rear crash structures around the fuel cylinders.

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American electric vehicle and software company Lucid Group has announced French market pricing for its Gravity SUV and Air sedan models prior to their debut at the Paris Motor Show, scheduled for 12–18 October in Hall 7.1.

The company outlines four trim configurations for the Lucid Gravity SUV in France. The entry-level Gravity Touring features a 568 PS powertrain, an 89 kWh battery pack providing a WLTP range of up to 545 kilometres, and a starting price of EUR 95,900 including VAT.

The Gravity Touring Plus incorporates seven-seat capacity along with soft-close doors and acoustic glazing, priced from EUR 99,900 including VAT. The Gravity Grand Touring, priced from EUR 120,900 including VAT, utilises a 123 kWh battery pack and an 839 PS output, reaching 100 kmph in 3.6 seconds with a WLTP range of up to 739 kilometres.

The flagship Gravity Grand Touring Ultimate trim includes three-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, a 22-speaker audio system, and driver assistance features, priced from EUR 148,900 including VAT.

The Lucid Air sedan range in France comprises four variants. The Air Pure model, priced from EUR 86,900 including VAT, uses an 88 kWh battery pack delivering up to 831 kilometres of WLTP range with energy consumption rated at 11.8 kWh per 100 km. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Air Touring offers up to 780 kilometres of range and starts at EUR 100,900 including VAT. The Air Grand Touring model provides a range of up to 960 kilometres, with pricing starting at EUR 131,900 including VAT. The range-topping Air Sapphire features a three-motor powertrain producing 1,251 PS, reaching 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds with a top speed of 330 kmph and a range of up to 694 kilometres, priced from EUR 252,900 including VAT.

Lawrence Hamilton, President of Europe, Lucid, said, "Lucid prioritises the customer journey as it enters the French market at the Paris Motor Show. French customers will be able to experience Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air firsthand and see how our technology delivers exceptional range, efficiency, performance and space."

Lucid plans to display the Gravity Grand Touring and Air Grand Touring models at the trade show, with ordering and availability details to be released separately. The company will conduct a press conference on 12 October with Lawrence Hamilton and Pierre Guignot, General Manager of the Emil Frey France Import Division, following a partnership agreement with Emil Frey France to manage import and operational activities across the country.

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Chinese automotive major Geely Auto has announced that its Monjaro EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV achieved a Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Black and White Desert in the Sahara by a plug-in hybrid production SUV.

The announcement took place during the Monjaro EM-i Product Capability & Core Tech Deep Dive event following a continuous 188.6-kilometre drive from the volcanic terrain of the Black Desert to the chalk-white landscape of the White Desert in Egypt.

The crossing served as a testing platform across five evaluation areas – handling and stability, steep-slope ascents, cross-axle recovery, ride comfort over rough surfaces and acceleration at a low state of battery charge. The vehicle is constructed on Geely’s GEA Evo new-energy architecture and utilises the GEEA 3.0 electronic structure to coordinate power delivery across its drive systems.

The Monjaro EM-i features Geely’s e-AWD Intelligent Electric AWD System, which alters front-to-rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 50:50 ratios. The system functions alongside traction control algorithms to reduce wheel slip by up to 50 per cent on low-friction surfaces.

Suspended by a Continuous Damping Control system that adjusts up to 50 times per second with a 20-millisecond response time, the EM-i Super Hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with electric drive units to output 250 kW of power and 667 Nm of torque, achieving a claimed zero to 100 kmph acceleration time of 5.83 seconds. Thermal management systems regulated component temperatures across the engine, battery and power electronics during the desert run.

The Sahara driving programme was attended by media representatives and automotive commentators from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Peru. Geely Auto reported export sales of 110,094 vehicles in August, marking a 205 percent increase compared to the same month in the prior year. The company plans to present the Monjaro EM-i at the Paris Motor Show in October as part of its ongoing international product rollout.

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