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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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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