Czech automaker Skoda Auto is celebrating its silver jubilee milestone in India. The OEM had entered the Indian market in January 2000 and had laid the foundation stone for its plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) making it the first Volkswagen Group brand to establish a presence in the domestic market.

The Skoda Octavia was the first model by the Volkswagen Group to be assembled locally in India.

Skoda Auto shared that its India operations plays a key role in its global plans, which has enabled to effectively leverage existing sales potential in the ASEAN region, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

It was in 2018, that Volkswagen Group appointed Skoda Auto to spearhead all activities in India jointly since 2018. Fast forward to present, Skoda has developed and produces three models locally in India for India, based on the localised MQB A0–IN platform: the Kushaq, the Slavia and the Kylaq compact SUV. 

Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Skoda Auto, said, “We have built on 25 years of experience in India to make this thriving market the cornerstone of our international growth strategy. With its tremendous talent pool, growing consumer demand, and access to other markets, India is becoming our second pillar outside Europe and helping leverage further sales potential in ASEAN, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region. Skoda has been a notable brand in India since we entered the market with the Octavia in 2001. We now produce in two plants. We have launched three all-new models specifically for India, achieving localisation of up to 95 percent: the Skoda Kushaq, Slavia and just recently the Kylaq compact SUV, which complement the Octavia and Superb we also sell through a growing dealer network. In the last two years, we have increased customer touchpoints across the country by 35 percent. India also contributes to the global sustainability goals of Skoda Auto. One plant already runs entirely on green energy, while the plant in Pune expanded its photovoltaic system to deliver up to 30 percent of its electricity needs. I want to thank all our Indian colleagues for helping power the next stage of our growth, and especially our customers for their trust in our products. With this passion, we can achieve even greater things in the next 25 years!"

Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Skoda was the first brand to establish Volkswagen Group’s presence in India, setting up its first plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar back in January 2000. As Skoda celebrates 25 years in the country, the Group’s focus on the Indian market continues to strengthen. With evolving consumer preferences, we are introducing products that combine the Group’s global expertise with a deep understanding of the Indian market. Today, our model lineup features advanced vehicles designed and built specifically for India, including the newly unveiled compact SUV, Skoda Kylaq.”

“This dynamic market has become the foundation of Skoda’s internationalisation strategy, driven by our commitment to innovation, safety, sustainability and customer-centric solutions. We are dedicated to enhancing our manufacturing capabilities & sales touchpoints and advancing our sustainability initiatives to deliver long-term value to our customers, employees, and communities,” added Arora.

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Renault India has commenced customer deliveries of the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160, with the initial key handover taking place at its newly inaugurated new'R store in HITEC City, Hyderabad.

The delivery of the first unit was completed by Francisco Hidalgo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Renault Group India, to T Krishna Gopal, Chief Executive Officer of Eduzi Academy.

The new'R store in HITEC City covers 7,000 square feet with space to display eight vehicles, making it Renault’s largest showroom facility in Hyderabad and its 30th upgraded new'R store nationwide.

The facility is operated in partnership with the VVC Group, which manages three Renault showrooms and two service workshops in the region.

Renault India plans to transition all 73 of its showrooms across 24 major Indian cities to the new'R format by July 2027, with 30 locations converted to date. The Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 was launched in India on 17 October 2026, at a starting price of ₹16.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Renault Group India, said, "During our planning phase, we set ourselves an ambitious target: to bring the Duster Hybrid to customers in less than a year, in time for the festive season. We are proud to have delivered on that promise, and we begin handing over the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 to our customers around Diwali. The strong response since launch reflects growing acceptance of hybrid technology in India. Our commitment, however, goes beyond the product. Hyderabad is an important market for us, and with the new'R store we are building a best-in-class buying and ownership journey, so that every customer enjoys the same standard of experience at the showroom and in service as they do behind the wheel."

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Maruti Suzuki India has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Transport Department, Government of Telangana, to set up 12 Automated Driving Test Tracks across six locations under its corporate social responsibility initiative. The tracks will be established at Ibrahimpatnam, Karimnagar, Kondapur, Medchal, Nagole and Uppal.

The facilities will evaluate applicants for two-wheeler, light motor vehicle and heavy motor vehicle driving licences, with heavy motor vehicle testing available at the Nagole and Karimnagar locations.

The tracks will feature high-definition cameras, RFID sensors, analytics software and an integrated IT system to automate testing in accordance with Central Motor Vehicle Rules.

With this agreement, Maruti Suzuki India's operational network of automated test tracks expands to 98 locations across nine states and two union territories. The company has also established eight Institutes of Driving and Traffic Research and 19 Road Safety Knowledge Centres in collaboration with state governments, evaluating over 5.5 million individuals.

K Ilambarithi, Transport Commissioner for the Government, Telangana, said, "Road safety remains a key priority for Telangana. Through technology, stronger enforcement, and improved driver testing, we are working to build safer roads. We welcome car market leader Maruti Suzuki’s partnership in establishing 12 Automated Driving Test Tracks across 6 locations in the state. These tracks will make driving tests more transparent and efficient, while ensuring that only competent and qualified applicants are awarded driving licenses."

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki India, said, "Driver skill is key to ensuring road safety. ADTTs bring fairness and transparency, to the licensing process by eliminating human bias. ADTTs will ensure rigorous driver evaluation and promote disciplined driving practices, vital to enhance road safety. Our partnership with the Government of Telangana to deploy Automated Driving Test Tracks is an important step in this direction. We are pleased to contribute to Telangana’s road-safety journey and look forward to deepening this collaboration in the future."

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the introduction of the Innova Crysta LIMO Edition, a brand offering created for commercial fleet mobility operators. The new model is available exclusively in the GX-SLF grade across 7-seater and 8-seater seating configurations.

The Innova Crysta LIMO is powered by Toyota's 2.4-litre diesel engine paired with a manual transmission, delivering a certified fuel efficiency of up to 15 kmpl. It features captain seats, multi-row air-conditioning, touchscreen infotainment with smartphone connectivity and safety equipment including up to seven airbags, Anti-lock Braking System, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist Control and Electronic Brake-force Distribution.

Standard ownership terms include a warranty of three years or 100,000 km, with extension options available up to five years or 220,000 km. Ex-showroom pricing remains unchanged, starting at INR 1.99 million for the seven-seater variant and eight-seater layout.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President of Sales, Service and Used Car Business at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "For over two decades, the Innova has earned the trust of customers by consistently delivering on reliability, comfort and confidence of ownership making it a preferred mobility across generations. Professional mobility customers have also been an integral part of this journey. With the Innova Crysta LIMO, we are building on this strong legacy with a distinct identity while continuing to deliver the quality and dependability they expect from brand Toyota."

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the introduction of a Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) program for customers owning vehicles equipped with Bluelink connected-car technology.

The initiative allows eligible vehicle owners to access potential savings on the own-damage portion of their insurance premiums based on recorded driving behaviour.

The program evaluates vehicle usage and driving metrics captured over a three-month period through the Bluelink platform, assessing parameters such as rapid acceleration, rapid deceleration, rapid braking, speed management and engine idling duration.

Drivers with an insurance renewal due within 90 days and a driving score of 70 or above out of 100 may qualify for savings of up to 15 percent on own-damage premiums, subject to the underwriting criteria of participating insurance partners.

Hyundai India Insurance Broking acts as the intermediary facilitating consent-based score sharing between vehicle owners and insurance companies. The initial phase of the program includes Cholamandalam MS General Insurance, Go Digit General Insurance and ICICI Lombard General Insurance as participating partners. Customers can track their driving score and view eligibility directly within the Hyundai Bluelink mobile application.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor India, said, "Hyundai Motor India’s connected car ecosystem continues to witness strong growth, with over 0.8 million connected cars already on Indian roads, a target of 1 million cumulative connected car sales by 2027 and an ambition to reach 2 million connected car sales by 2030 through its Bluelink platform. Leveraging this expanding connected-car ecosystem, the Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) program extends the value of connected mobility beyond convenience and safety by rewarding responsible driving with personalised insurance benefits. In certain cases, customers may save up to 15 percent (basis insurers underwriting rules) on the own-damage component of their insurance premium, making vehicle ownership safer, smarter and more rewarding."

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