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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Stellantis-owned Citroen has confirmed the addition of a new model to its vehicle lineup, inspired by its historic 2 CV model. The vehicle is being introduced as part of the FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan outlined by parent company Stellantis.

Citroen intends to position the vehicle within the electric vehicle category, focusing on a design that prioritises accessibility, weight reduction and practicality to meet modern urban traffic regulations. It has announced that it will disclose further technical and product details at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026.

Xavier Chardon, Chief Executive Officer, Citroen, said, “Reinventing the 2 CV of tomorrow is a huge challenge and responsibility. The original 2 CV was never created to become an icon. It became one because it gave people freedom. The new 2 CV will carry that same spirit forward – not through nostalgia, but by reinventing its simplicity and accessibility for today’s world. Electric. Essential. Affordable. Human. Just like the original once democratised mobility, the new 2 CV will re-enchant electric mobility for a new generation through a highly desirable model. The return of the 2 CV is not simply the return of a legendary name. It is the return of a bold and optimistic idea of progress. A profoundly Citroen idea.”

Development and manufacturing processes for the vehicle are centred at the facility in Poissy, France. Until the production phase of the new model commences, the brand continues to address entry-level electric vehicle demand through its existing e-C3 model variant.

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Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the GLE and GLS Night Editions, two exclusive limited-series models that bring a distinct visual identity and specially curated interiors to the brand’s best-selling luxury SUV range. These editions are part of a global limited run and will be available in restricted volumes, reinforcing their exclusivity and appeal to collectors. The configurations offered are not replicated on any standard variant.

Responding to rising customer demand for personalisation, the Night Editions feature darkened exterior styling with two colour choices: Obsidian Black and Alpine Grey. The Alpine Grey finish is reserved exclusively for this series, providing a more distinctive offering. Inside, both models elevate the cabin with black Nappa leather upholstance and Anthracite open-pore oak wood trim, details unavailable on standard versions. A head-up display comes as standard equipment across both vehicles.

The GLE Night Edition adds AIRMATIC suspension as an extra refinement, distinguishing its ride quality further from the standard GLE. The GLE has long been a consistent performer in Mercedes-Benz India’s core luxury SUV segment, and this new variant builds on that foundation with a sport-influenced black-centric exterior. Meanwhile, the GLS Night Edition applies the same design language to the flagship luxury SUV, which remains the highest-selling model in its segment. The black exterior styling gains greater visual authority on the larger GLS platform, while the premium interior upgrades extend the cabin’s luxurious character.

Pricing for the Night Edition GLS 450 stands at INR 14,100,000 ex-showroom all-India, while the GLS 450d is priced at INR 14,300,000. The GLE 300d Night Edition is available at INR 10,500,000, and the GLE 450 Night Edition at INR 11,400,000, both ex-showroom all-India.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Continuous product innovation for customers through new products, their facelifts and exclusive editions has been core to Mercedes-Benz’s successful product strategy in India, consistently elevating the brand’s desirability. GLE and GLS are undisputed segment leaders in the luxury SUV category in India, elevating India into Mercedes-Benz’s top global markets for these SUVs. The introduction of the ‘Night Edition’ with bespoke design, curated interiors, exclusive appointments and a sharper focus on personalisation makes the SUVs highly exclusive and unmatched in appeal. As our discerning customers increasingly seek vehicles that reflect their individuality, the GLE and GLS ‘Night Edition’ sets a new standard in differentiated luxury, reinforcing Mercedes-Benz’s leadership in top-end luxury SUV space.”

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European automotive major Stellantis has introduced STLA One, a new modular vehicle architecture designed to consolidate five existing platforms into a single, scalable system.

Scheduled for launch in 2027, the platform aims to support the company’s vehicle segments (B, C and D) and is projected to underpin more than 30 models, with production targets exceeding 2 million units annually by 2035.

The platform is claimed to be engineered to deliver a 20 percent improvement in cost efficiency through design modularity, increased component reuse and strategic battery technology choices.

STLA One is central to the company’s broader strategy, which aims for 50 percent of total volume to be produced on three global platforms by 2030. It is the first Stellantis architecture slated to integrate the full suite of the company's ‘STLA’ technology stack, including STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and steer-by-wire systems.

It is designed with common interfaces to reduce complexity and speed up development times across different vehicle segments. The architecture is engineered to be ‘dedicated per energy by design,’ ensuring efficiency for various powertrain types (including electric and hybrid variants).

The platform will support Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery technology to improve affordability and reduce dependency on critical raw materials. It will also feature cell-to-body integration to reduce weight and complexity and will be 800-volt capable to support faster charging.

While the STLA One announcement represents a new modular approach for the B, C and D segments, it joins the broader family of Stellantis global platforms, which previously included the STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large and STLA Frame architectures. The company’s overall strategy continues to focus on consolidating its diverse portfolio into fewer, more efficient and highly flexible platforms.

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MINI India, part of the BMW Group, has entered the Jharkhand market with the appointment of Titanium Autos as its authorised dealer partner in Ranchi. This opening is part of the brand’s 2026 expansion strategy, which has already seen market entries in Guwahati, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Surat.

The new Titanium Autos Retail.NEXT dealership, located at NH-33, Chakla, Ormanjhi, offers a multi-brand experience by housing BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles under one roof. The facility showcases eight BMWs, one MINI, and seven BMW Motorrad units, supported by a workshop featuring three mechanical bays and four body and paint bays.

The dealership utilises the BMW Group’s 'Retail.NEXT' immersive concept, focusing on a customer-centric environment that integrates modern architecture with digital tools.

Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “MINI’s entry into Jharkhand marks an important step in expanding the brand’s presence in emerging premium markets across India. Jharkhand is witnessing a growing appetite for distinctive, design-led and engaging luxury mobility, making it a strategic market for MINI. We are pleased to appoint Titanium Autos as our dealer partner for Jharkhand.”

Utkarsh Singhania, Dealer Principal, Titanium Autos, added, “Jharkhand represents a promising market with evolving customer aspirations, and we look forward to building a strong MINI presence through exceptional sales and service standards.”

Titanium Autos, which also represents the BMW Group in Guwahati and Patna, aims to provide comprehensive sales, service, and lifestyle offerings at this new location.

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