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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Honda Cars India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has unveiled the updated Elevate SUV, featuring styling updates, interior additions and expanded safety technology.

Interestingly, India is the first market to launch the updated vehicle globally, representing the third of six product launches planned by the manufacturer for the current financial year.

The Elevate SUV gets a redesigned mesh grille with gloss black upper moulding, revised position light elements, gloss black trim on the lower bumper and side garnishes and a full-width connected tail lamp setup.

It features 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and retains its vehicle dimensions, measuring 4,312 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width and 1,650 mm in height, with 220 mm of ground clearance and a 2,650 mm wheelbase. A new exterior paint finish, Nordic Forest Pearl, has been added to the palette.

The Elevate continues to be powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine generating 89 kW (121 PS) and 145 Nm of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuous variable transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 15.31 kmpl for the manual version and 16.61 kmpl for the automatic. The model is offered across five trim levels – SV, V, VX, ZX and ZX+ – with ex-showroom Delhi prices ranging from INR 1.18 million for the base manual variant to INR 1.84 million for the top-spec automatic.

On the inside, the SUV features a dual-tone ivory and black cabin layout, orange ambient lighting, ventilated front and rear seats, power-adjustable front seats and an electric sunroof.

Technology updates include a 360-degree camera system, front parking sensors, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, an air quality indicator and wireless smartphone integration. The safety suite adds low-speed follow functionality to its camera-based advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) on automatic variants, alongside standard features such as six airbags, vehicle stability assist and electric parking brake.

Toshiyuki Yanagisawa, President & CEO, Honda Cars India, said, "The Honda Elevate has established a strong connection with customers through its confident design, versatility and enjoyable driving experience. With the New Elevate, we are taking this character forward with a much bolder expression and significant enhancements across design, comfort, technology and convenience. Being the lead market for its sales, India is the first country to launch the New Elevate globally. Its bolder, more rugged styling and enhanced premium features are designed to meet the evolving aspirations of today’s SUV buyers. This is the third of our six key launches planned for this financial year. We expect the New Elevate to play a key role in driving our momentum during the ongoing festive season and strengthening our product portfolio offering customers more exciting choices."

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has announced pricing for the updated Slavia sedan, starting at INR 999,900 (ex-showroom) for the base Classic manual variant to INR 1.88 million for the top-spec Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI automatic model.

The Slavia is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform and is available across six trim levels: Classic, Classic+, Signature, Sportline, Prestige and Monte Carlo. The deliveries are set to commence next week, with an additional Cappuccino Beige colour variant scheduled for release in December 2026.

The sedan retains its existing petrol powertrain options, offering a 1.0-litre TSI engine paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. On the other hand, the 1.5-litre TSI engine variant is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and includes rear disc brakes.

Exterior updates include redesigned light units, revised front and rear sections, sequential rear indicators, and new alloy wheel options.

On the inside, the Slavia gets a rear-seat massage function on higher trim levels, alongside a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors and a digital instrument cluster measuring up to 26.03 centimetres.

The 25.6-centimetre infotainment system incorporates a voice assistant powered by Google Cloud's Automotive AI Agent, supporting wireless smartphone integration. Safety equipment includes six airbags and standard electronic assistance systems across the range, maintaining its 5-star rating from Global NCAP testing.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The Slavia has become an important part of Skoda Auto India’s sedan legacy, bringing together the design, driving experience, safety and engineering that customers associate with our brand. The new Slavia builds on that strong foundation with a more striking presence, greater comfort, smarter technology and an all-new eight-speed automatic. That is the essence of Says it All: a sedan that does not ask customers to choose between aspiration and practicality, performance and comfort, or technology and peace of mind. It brings these strengths together in one confident, complete package, making the sedan experience even more relevant and desirable for a new generation of customers.”

The vehicle comes with a four-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty, four years of roadside assistance and four routine labour-free services. Warranty coverage can be extended up to six years.

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German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Mercedes-Maybach S 580e 4MATIC, introducing a plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Maybach range in India at INR 33.5 million. The company has introduced the Maybach S 580e with an initial allocation limited to 30 units. 

It combines a 3.0-litre petrol engine delivering 443 hp and 560 Nm of torque with an electric motor producing 160 hp and 480 Nm. Together, the system generates a total output of 585 hp and 750 Nm of torque via a nine-speed transmission and all-wheel drive.

Powered by a 22 kWh usable battery, the saloon provides a WLTP-certified electric range of up to 98 km and reaches 100 kmph in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed limited to 250 kmph. Charging options include up to 11 kW AC and up to 60 kW DC fast charging.  

The interior features a four-seat layout with individual rear seats and a central console. Equipment includes air suspension using navigation data, rear-axle steering up to 10 degrees, 15 airbags, and a 31-speaker sound system. Digital interfaces operate on the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, incorporating a front-passenger display screen and driving assistance functions.

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "The Mercedes-Maybach S 580e perfectly reflects our strategy of offering the most desirable luxury portfolio, while offering customers the freedom to choose the technology that best suits their lifestyle. We are seeing rising demand for Plug-In-Hybrid among our top-end customers, and the Maybach S 580e combines the timeless exclusivity, handcrafted luxury and iconic luxury of a Maybach with the convenience of a plug-in hybrid technology. With ICE, BEV and PHEV models in our portfolio, Mercedes-Benz is uniquely positioned to offer diverse luxury mobility solution, ensuring performance, sustainability and luxury."

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Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo Auto India has appointed Karan Arora as Director of Marketing and PR. He joins the luxury automaker with over 15 years of leadership experience across the luxury automotive and luxury real estate sectors.

Arora previously worked in the luxury automotive industry, spending over six years at Audi India as Head of Marketing Communications and Experiential, where he managed product launches, events and customer engagement initiatives. He also held the role of Regional Business Manager for North India at Jaguar Land Rover.

In addition to his automotive background, Arora has led marketing teams in the real estate and home solutions sectors. His previous roles include managing premium and luxury residential marketing portfolios at Godrej Properties, Central Park and Smartworld Developers, as well as overseeing marketing for GROHE and American Standard at LIXIL India. Most recently, he served as Vice-President of Marketing at Krisumi Corporation.

Arora holds a Master of Business Administration from the International Management Institute, New Delhi and a Bachelor of Technology from Panjab University.

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