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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PPS Motors has inaugurated a new Mahindra touchpoint in Pune, further solidifying its presence within Maharashtra as part of a broader strategy to enhance customer accessibility and service quality. The facility was officially opened in the presence of senior officials from Mahindra & Mahindra, including Aman Malik, National Sales Head; Gaurav Beohar, Zonal Sales Head (West); Prabhakar Jakkan, Regional Sales Manager; Pakshal Shah, Chief of Staff, PPS Group, marking a significant collaboration between the two organisations.

Located strategically on East Street in Camp, the newly established 3,600 sft showroom is engineered to offer a premium and immersive customer journey. The space can accommodate up to five vehicles simultaneously, displaying Mahindra’s full range of passenger vehicles, which includes both internal combustion engine and electric options. Every aspect of the dealership, from its modern colour scheme and dynamic lighting to its intuitive technology, has been meticulously crafted to reflect progressive design and refined elegance, allowing visitors to explore breakthrough innovations such as the INGLO Electric Origin architecture and the advanced MAIA automotive mind.

This launch significantly bolsters PPS Motors’ extensive network, as the group now operates 149 Mahindra touchpoints across six states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Camp location represents the eighth Mahindra facility in Pune, comprising seven showrooms and one workshop. Within just two years of commencing local operations, PPS-Mahindra has sold over 6,200 vehicles in the Pune region, and the group achieved approximately 41,500 Mahindra vehicle sales nationwide in FY 2026, cementing its status as the manufacturer’s largest sales and after-sales partner in India.

The expansion arrives amid robust regional automotive growth, with Pune’s passenger vehicle registrations rising to 74,814 units in 2025. Furthermore, Maharashtra has maintained its dominance in the electric vehicle sector, recording retail sales of 34,139 e-PVs in FY 2026, a remarkable 100 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, underscoring the growing consumer appetite for both conventional and electric mobility solutions in the state.

Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Group, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate our 149th Mahindra touchpoint at the prestigious Camp location in Pune. This expansion reinforces our nearly seven-decade partnership with Mahindra, built on trust, shared growth and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction while further strengthening our position as its largest dealership partner in India, with around 41,500 vehicle sales in FY2026. With Mahindra’s future-ready products, customer-focused approach coupled with our deep understanding of the customer needs, we together endeavour to provide best-in-class ownership experience for our customers.”

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Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has opened bookings for the 2026 Brezza, which is set to be launched on 24 July 2026.

The SUV can be reserved at Maruti Suzuki ARENA showrooms or via the company website for an amount of INR 11,000. Since its launch in 2016, the company has sold over 1.4 million units of the Brezza.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "Brezza's extraordinary journey since its introduction in 2016 has made it India’s highest selling compact SUV. In 10 Years, Brezza has won the trust of over 1.4 million customers which is a testament of its product supremacy and segment domination. In 2026, The new Brezza will represent a perfect synthesis of customer’s love and unlock a new dimension of excitement. We invite customers to book the new Brezza today and be among the first to experience it."

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that the Carens SUV family has reached a cumulative sales milestone of 300,000 units, which includes the Carens, Carens Clavis and the Carens Clavis EV.

At present, the Carens lineup sales consist of 60 percent petrol, 30 percent diesel and 10 percent electric. The Carens Clavis EV is available with two battery capacities: a 51.4 kWh option providing a 490 km range and a 42 kWh option with a 404 km range. The EV features fast charging, capable of reaching 80 percent charge from 10 percent in 39 minutes, and is powered by motors delivering 255 Nm of torque.

Sunhack Park, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “The 300,000-unit milestone for the Carens underscores its position as a segment leader and a true gamechanger in the MPV space. This achievement is a direct result of our product-led strategy, our sharp understanding of customer needs, and our unwavering focus on quality. It strengthens our conviction that the Carens is the benchmark for its class, and we are energized to build on this momentum as we accelerate our growth journey."

Furthermore, for Carens the top trim levels account for 18 percent of total sales.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has handed over a 10-hectare ecological restoration project in the Herbivore Safari Zone of Bannerghatta Biological Park to the Zoo Authority of Karnataka. The initiative is part of the company's ‘Harmony with Nature – Green Wave’ projects and its commitment to biodiversity and sustainability.

The restoration involved weed removal and the planting of native saplings to improve habitat quality and forage availability. Protective measures include solar fencing, which will remain around the area for two years to prevent grazing on the new plantings. The project also includes a borewell equipped with a solar-powered pumping system to provide water during dry seasons.

A V Surya Sen, Executive Director of Bannerghatta Biological Park, said, “Public-private partnerships play a crucial role in strengthening conservation efforts across Karnataka. This initiative by Toyota Kirloskar Motor demonstrates how the industry can actively contribute to restoring ecosystems and enhancing wildlife habitats. The integration of renewable energy solutions further reflects a responsible and sustainable approach to environmental stewardship.”

B Padmanabha, Executive Vice-President & Director, Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At TKM, we believe that biodiversity conservation is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. This project reflects our commitment to the Harmony with Nature initiative under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. By implementing scientific weed management, native afforestation, protective measures for young plantations, and renewable-energy-powered infrastructure, we seek to restore ecological balance and foster a resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem.”

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