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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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reports 20 percent uptick in its wholesales for FY2026 with 406,081 units sold, as compared to 337,148 units last year.

The company recorded growth across both domestic and export markets during the financial year. Domestic sales rose by 19 percent to 367,107 units, while exports grew by 41 percent to 38,974 units.

In March 2026, Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported a 24 percent increase in total sales, with 37,194 units sold compared to 30,043 units a year ago.

The company attributes a robust demand for its product portfolio, which was supported by the introduction of the Land Cruiser 300, as well as new grades and special editions for the Innova Hycross, Fortuner, Camry Hybrid and Hilux. Technical updates included a new six-speed automatic transmission for the Urban Cruiser Hyryder AWD variant.

The company also standardised six airbags across the Rumion, Glanza, Urban Cruiser Taisor, and Urban Cruiser Hyryder models. The Innova Hycross achieved a five-star Bharat NCAP rating during this period.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor expanded its market reach through customer-centric initiatives and brand engagement activities, including the Toyota Experiential Museum (TEM) and a tour by brand ambassadors Drum Tao. These efforts were intended to increase reach among younger audiences and reinforce the brand's mobility positioning.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We delivered a positive performance this financial year, driven by sustained demand across our SUV, MPV and compact segments. The introduction of new products and customer centric initiatives during the year further helped position Toyota as a dynamic, technology driven and youth‑oriented brand. This momentum reflects the continued trust in Toyota’s quality, reliability and overall ownership experience. In a rapidly evolving market, such consistency underscores the strength of our fundamentals and positions us well for long‑term sustainable growth. We sincerely thank our customers, dealer partner, Government and other stakeholders for their trust & unwavering support. We remain focused on strengthening our product and technology offerings in line with our multi‑pathway approach of hybrid & electrified vehicle technologies in the mobility space. Looking ahead, we remain committed to creating long‑term value while continuously improving every touchpoint across the customer ownership journey.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its wholesales for FY2026 with a total of 2.42 million units sold. This figure represents the highest-ever annual total sales for the company and marks the third consecutive year surpassing the 2-million units threshold.

In terms of domestic sales, the company sold 1.86 million vehicles, while exports came at 447,774 units, marking a growth of 12 percent YoY and 35 percent YoY, respectively.

The SUV segment witnessed the highest growth of 6 percent YoY with sales at 760,987 units, while compact segment grew by 5 percent YoY and Vans at 3 percent YoY, respectively. The wholesales for mini (11 percent YoY) and sedan segment (76 percent YoY) were negative.

For March 2026, the sales came at 225,251 units, up 17 percent YoY, as compared to 192,984 units last year.

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Renault India, a subsidiary of the Renault Group, has announced its domestic wholesales of 5,046 units in March 2026, which marks a 77 percent growth compared to the 2,846 units sold last year.

Interestingly, the Kiger and Triber SUVs accounted for 63 percent of the company’s sales last month. Since their launch in the second quarter, the updated Kiger and Triber have contributed to a 27 percent growth rate through the end of the fiscal year.

For FY2026, the company reported total wholesales of 42,018 units, an 11 percent growth over the 37,900 units recorded in FY2025.

The performance follows a product strategy focused on updated vehicle line-ups and value propositions for the Indian market. The dispatch of the Duster signifies the re-entry of the nameplate into the competitive SUV segment, intended to support further volume growth in the 2026-27 financial year.

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Cars24 has announced a collaboration with Tesla India to introduce a trade-in programme designed to facilitate the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). The initiative integrates the sale of an existing car with the purchase of a new Tesla into a single process.

The programme provides a combined exchange benefit of INR 325,000 for customers switching to a Tesla Model Y. This is comprised of an exchange bonus of INR 300,000 to the value of the petrol or diesel vehicle for Tesla. Furthermore, an additional INR 25,000 Cars24 bonus credited to the customer’s bank account upon delivery of the new vehicle.

Tesla has introduced financing structures for the Model Y, including a down payment of INR 600,000 and monthly instalments starting from INR 49,000.

The trade-in process can be initiated at Tesla Experience Centres, or via the Cars24 website and mobile application.

The partnership utilises the digital platform and nationwide reach of Cars24 to manage price discovery and paperwork. The initiative aims to reduce the logistical challenges typically associated with disposing of a conventional vehicle while acquiring an electric model. Tesla’s Model Y, which supports home charging, is the primary focus of this accessibility campaign.

Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder and CMO, Cars24, said, “At Cars24, our focus has always been on simplifying car transactions. Partnering Collaborating with Tesla allows us to extend that convenience to customers transitioning to electric vehicles, managing everything from price discovery to payment and ownership transfer.”

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