Volkswagen-owned Czech-carmaker Skoda Auto India has announced the name of its upcoming all-new compact SUV, which will be called the Kylaq. 

The name has been selected through a unique campaign initiated in February 2024. Skoda Auto India invited users and customers to come up with their suggestions for the upcoming compact SUV, which will mark its global debut in 2025. 

Through the ‘Name Your Skoda’ campaign participants suggested names for the compact SUV that begin with the letter ‘K’ and ends with the letter ‘Q’ with one or two syllables. This was in line with Skoda’s tradition of naming their ICE SUVs. The campaign saw over 200,000 entries with over 24,000 unique names.

In the next phase, participants cast their vote for the choice among 15 shortlisted names. Basis the number of votes, from the 15 shortlisted names, 10 names were announced by Skoda Auto India. From the list, the winning name, which received the most votes and met all legal compliance criteria, was chosen for the all-new compact SUV. Kylaq is derived from the Sanskrit word for crystal, reflecting both the vehicle’s pristine qualities and inspiration from Mount Kailash.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said: “Our new compact SUV Kylaq is for the people of India. We wanted them to be part of every milestone of our biggest-ever launch in the country. The ‘Name Your Skoda’ campaign aimed at inculcating a sense of pride and belonging among participants and potential customers. The results are humbling with over 200,000 entries. It reinforces our legacy in India and showcases the great affinity people have towards the brand Skoda. The naming process of a car is important for us. And this upcoming all-new compact SUV represents the ultimate milestone within the fastest-growing and biggest segment in India. With the Kylaq, people, customers and fans have themselves named our newest family member, which is developed jointly by the teams in India and Europe, and will be locally manufactured.”

The winner of this naming contest will be the first owner of the Skoda Kylaq when it hits roads in 2025, lending them the unique opportunity of owning a car they named. Another 10 winners will visit Skoda Auto in Prague with a tour of the Skoda Museum and of the city. 

Kylaq

The all-new Kylaq is Skoda Auto India’s first-ever foray into the compact SUV segment. It is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, the same as the one of the Kushaq SUV and the Slavia sedan. The MQB-A0-IN was specifically developed for India by teams in India and the Czech Republic with an eye on versatility, safety, dynamics while focussing on localisation, low maintenance costs and a hassle-free ownership experience.

The Kylaq will be the company’s first implementation of the Modern Solid design language in India. It will also have a high ground clearance and space around the wheel for tackling uneven road surfaces lending the car that SUV character. The upcoming SUV will also feature a hexagon pattern on the side and rear of the car. At present, it is undergoing rigorous testing across India and the company is preparing for production with local supplier ramp-ups. Based on a larger car platform, the compact SUV will have the ‘big car’ feel within a compact footprint.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the return of the BE 6 Batman Edition, a themed electric SUV developed in association with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The decision to reopen bookings follows the initial launch, where 999 units were sold in 135 seconds.

The EV available at INR 2.84 million is based on the top-end Pack Three 79 kWh variant of the BE 6. This second release provides a window for customers who missed the previous allocation. Priority for deliveries will be granted to new bookings referred by existing owners of the original 999 units.

The BE 6 Batman Edition incorporates design motifs from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. The exterior features a satin black colour with alchemy gold accents on the suspension and brake callipers. It sits on R20 alloy wheels.

External features include:

• Badging: BE 6 × The Dark Knight rear badging and signature stickers on door cladding.
• Emblems: The Bat emblem is placed on hub caps, quarter panels, bumpers, and windows.
• Lighting: Carpet lamps projecting the Bat emblem.
• Roof: An Infinity Roof featuring trilogy-inspired graphics.

On the inside, it gets a brushed alchemy gold Batman Edition plaque and pinstripe graphics on the dashboard. Suede and leather seating with gold sepia stitching and embossed emblems upholstery. Emblems on the ‘Boost’ button and custom detailing on the steering wheel and key fob. A digital themed welcome animation on the infotainment system and custom exterior engine sounds.

For customers interested in purchasing the limited-edition model, Mahindra has outlined the specific schedule for the procurement process:

• 6 March 2026: "Add Your Preference" window opens on the official website.
• 10 March 2026: Bookings commence at 11:00 AM for a 24-hour period.
• 10 April 2026: Commencement of vehicle deliveries.

Mahindra stated that the reopening of bookings is a response to demand across social media platforms. The technical architecture remains identical to the high-performance BE 6 electric platform, utilising the 79 kWh battery system for range and power delivery.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the commencement of Phase II of its ‘Buckle Up’ road safety initiative. The project is conducted in partnership with The Social Lab Foundation (TSL) and is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The second phase was inaugurated by Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, at Transport Bhawan. As part of the launch, Kia India and TSL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the programme’s geographic reach into Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand over the next two years.

Phase I, which ran from February 2024 to February 2026, focused on Gurugram in collaboration with local traffic police. Key outcomes included the installation of 750 crash barriers at high-risk locations and road safety education for 32,000 students across 100 schools.

Phase II (April 2026 – March 2028) shifts focus toward older students and expanded infrastructure. The programme aims to engage 20,000 students across 100 colleges using driving simulators and experiential modules to demonstrate real-world risks.

The initiative combines physical safety installations with behavioural training. Future infrastructure work includes placing additional crash barriers along the Delhi-Uttarakhand highway and in Gurgaon.

Key programme components for Phase II include:

• Simulated Training: Use of advanced driving simulators to teach safer driving behaviours to college students.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Continued installation of safety barriers in high-risk zones.
• Awareness Campaigns: Integrated on-ground and digital engagement programmes.
• Geographic Expansion: Operations extending across Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand.

Ajay Tamta, said, “Securing CMVR Type Approval for the Urbanova KE9 is a defining milestone for Keto Motors. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering dependable, high-performance electric mobility solutions designed specifically for Indian roads and fleet operators. With approvals in place, we are now focused on accelerating customer deployments and supporting India’s transition toward clean, zero-emission public transport.”

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, safety is a fundamental pillar of our mobility vision, extending beyond our vehicles to the communities we serve. ‘Buckle Up’ reflects our long-term commitment to creating safer mobility ecosystems through infrastructure enhancement and sustained behavioural change initiatives. With Phase II, we are scaling our efforts to reach young and first-time drivers while strengthening on-ground safety interventions. Through this initiative, we are proud to support the Government of India’s vision of safer roads and contribute meaningfully towards building a stronger culture of road safety across communities.”

Apoorva Sharma, Executive Director, TSL Foundation, added, “Our collaboration with Kia India in Phase I laid a strong operational foundation through targeted infrastructure and school-level engagement. With Phase II, we are building on these learnings to scale the programme across new geographies and age groups, further strengthening its impact through structured, experiential road safety interventions.”

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Zenvo Automotive, a manufacturer of limited-edition hypercars based in Præstø, Denmark, has appointed Mark Harrison as its new Chief Commercial Officer, bringing in a seasoned expert from the premium and performance car sector. His arrival marks a significant step in the company’s ambitious growth strategy as it prepares for the final development phase of its highly anticipated V12 Aurora hypercar. Harrison will oversee all commercial operations, including sales, marketing, public relations, global events and the expansion of the dealer network, working closely with the established leadership team comprising Chairman Jens Sverdrup, Chief Technical Officer Jon Gunner and Design Director Christian Brandt.

With three decades of industry experience, Harrison joins Zenvo from Praga Cars, having previously held influential management roles at McLaren Automotive and BMW Group, including its MINI division. His comprehensive understanding of the luxury automotive landscape is expected to be instrumental as the company moves towards the Aurora’s launch. Harrison’s appointment reinforces the management structure during this critical period, ensuring the commercial strategy aligns with the final engineering and design efforts to bring the new hypercar to market.

Jens Sverdrup, Chairman, Zenvo Automotive, said, “It is great to welcome Mark to the team, and to benefit from his experience and insight of the industry. We have known each other for many years, and our professional paths have crossed on several occasions, so I know first-hand what an impact he will be able to make. We are at an exciting part of the programme, and this appointment also highlights, once again, the talent that this project is attracting as we gear up for the launch of Aurora.”

Harrison said, “It’s really exciting to join Zenvo’s team and help bring to market a truly exceptional car in both its design and technical specification. I have admired the brand since the Aurora was announced and especially how the programme is pushing the boundaries in such a competitive sector. I have shared offices, showrooms, show stands and factories with great teams wherever I have worked, but this will be my first V12. I feel privileged to now have an opportunity to work together with this strong and passionate team helping bring this stunning car to market later this year.”

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Renault has unveiled the name of its latest show-car, the Bridger Concept, as part of its continued international expansion. This model serves as a precursor to a forthcoming production vehicle, specifically an urban SUV designed with new dimensions to accommodate the evolving needs of city-dwelling families.

The Bridger Concept stands out with its bold and robust design, featuring surprisingly compact proportions. Measuring under four metres in length, it maximises interior space, demonstrating that a smaller footprint does not necessitate a compromise on roominess. The name itself, derived from the English word ‘bridge’, was chosen for its connotations of strength, connection and linkage. This choice highlights the vehicle's assertive styling and reinforces the brand's commitment to fostering human connections within the cabin, a core aspect of its ‘voitures à vivre’ philosophy.

A comprehensive reveal of the Bridger Concept is scheduled for 10 March 2026. This unveiling will occur during the presentation of Renault Group's futuREady strategic plan, with the entire event being streamed live from the company's official events platform.

Explaining the thinking behind the name of the new show-car, Sylvia dos Santos, Head of Naming Strategy with Renault's Global Marketing Division, said, “With Renault Bridger, we are adding to our family of names based on English words.  This one comes from the word 'bridge', with the letters 'ER' added for identification. The name Renault Bridger is part of the same approach as the name of Renault Duster. It’s a powerful, robust and versatile name, ideal to identify our new urban SUV show-car and open a new page in our international offensive!”

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