Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Starts Kylaq Production At Chakan Plant

Skoda Kylaq
L-R: Piyush Arora, MD & CEO of SAVWIPL and Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production & Logistics at Skoda Auto at the official Start of Production (SoP) ceremony for the Skoda Kylaq.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL), a leading passenger vehicles manufacturer, has begun local production of the Skoda Kylaq compact SUV at its Chakan facility in Pune.

The Skoda Kylaq is the company’s fifth model on the MQB-A0-IN platform and is the most affordable model in its portfolio. Powered by Skoda's 1.0-litre TSI engine that produces 115bhp and 178Nm the Skoda Kylaq can be had in either a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed AT torque converter. The SUV can accelerate from zero to 100kmph in 10.5 seconds and attain a claimed top speed of 188kmph. It is launched at starting price of INR 789,000. The Czech carmaker stated it has expanded its local supplier base by 10 percent that will help bring down the cost of ownership and also enable faster turnaround time.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “We’re thrilled to begin production of Skoda Auto India’s first sub-4-meter SUV. Congratulations to the entire team on the successful start of production. Kylaq is engineered and developed in India to cater to the evolving requirements of Indian customers. By manufacturing Kylaq locally, we proudly support the Make-in-India initiative, maintaining Group’s DNA of delivering safety, comfort and driving dynamics.”

Furthermore, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has increased production at its Chakan facility by 30 percent, which now can produce 255,000 vehicles per year.

Andreas Dick, Member of the Board of Management of Skoda Auto for Production and Logistics, said, “The successful start of production for Skoda Kylaq reflects the incredible teamwork and collaboration between our teams in India and the Czech Republic. Every detail has been meticulously planned and executed, from design to the implementation of advanced manufacturing processes, ensuring we meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. These efforts have created the ideal prerequisites for Kylaq to become a cornerstone of our success in India, setting new benchmarks in the compact SUV segment and strengthening our commitment to this dynamic market.”

Kia India Sells 28,200 PVs In July 2026

Kia India

Kia India recorded wholesale dispatches of 28,200 units in July 2026, marking a 27.4 percent increase compared to 22,135 units sold last year.

Interestingly, last month the automaker clocked its highest July wholesale volume since commencing operations in India.

The company attributed the sales performance to the Seltos and Sonet SUVs. The Seltos has maintained monthly dispatch averages above 10,000 units since January, with year-to-date growth standing at 75.7 percent. On the other hand, Sonet saw its sales rise 34.5 percent for YTD CY2026.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Our best-ever July wholesale performance reflects the continued trust of our customers and the strong acceptance of Kia's diverse product portfolio. Building on our record H1 performance, we have maintained healthy momentum across key segments. Led by the strong performance of the Seltos and Sonet, we have seen healthy demand across Carens Clavis and MY26 Syros. Meanwhile, the Carens Clavis EV continues to strengthen our presence in the electric mobility space. We are delighted by the customer response to the newly launched Syros EV. Its segment-leading range, advanced technology, industry-leading ownership benefits and expanding EV ecosystem reflect our commitment to delivering practical and future-ready mobility solutions for Indian customers. We remain focused on strengthening our product portfolio and enhancing the ownership experience as we continue our growth journey.”

In the electric vehicle segment, Kia India recently introduced the Syros EV, featuring an ARAI-certified range of 526 km, 171 PS power output, Level 2 autonomous driver assistance systems with 16 functions and a 39-minute fast-charging capability from 10 to 80 percent. The model joins the Carens Clavis EV in Kia's electric lineup.

At present, the company operates a retail and service network comprising 905 touchpoints across 412 cities in India, supported by 135 Certified Pre-Owned vehicle outlets.

Honda Cars India Sells 6,014 PVs In July 2026

Honda Cars India

Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its wholesale sales of 8,284 units for July 2026, up 10 percent YoY, as compared to 7,524 units sold last year.

In the domestic market, the company sold 6,014 units, up 48 percent YoY, as compared to 4,050 units last year. Exports came at 2,270 units, a decline of 35 percent YoY, as compared to 3,473 units.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “Our sales performance with over 48 percent growth in domestic sales in July’ 26 reflects the positive momentum we are building across our portfolio. The encouraging response to the recently introduced new City and the launch of the Honda ZR-V has further strengthened customer interest in the brand, while Honda Elevate and Honda Amaze continue to deliver robust sales backed by their strong value proposition and customer trust. With the onset of the festive season, we are confident that our strengthened portfolio and customer-focused initiatives will help us sustain this momentum in the months ahead.”

Maruti Suzuki India Sells 196,203 PVs In July 2026

Maruti Suzuki India

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its wholesales for July 2026, selling 241,421 units, marking a 34 percent YoY growth, as compared to 180,526 units sold last year.

In the domestic market, the company sold 196,203 passenger vehicles, up 42 percent YoY, as compared to 137,776 units last year. Commercial vehicle sales came at 3,920 units, as compared to 2,794 units.

Sales to other OEMs (Toyota Kirloskar Motor) came at 11,242 units, up 37 percent YoY, as compared to 8,211 units.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Sells 30,516 PVs In July 2026

Toyota

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its wholesale sales for July 2026.

The company sold 29,159 units in the domestic market, marking a 5 percent YoY growth, as compared to 29,159 units sold last year.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We registered a steady performance in July, reflecting sustained customer confidence in the Toyota brand. The result underscores our continued focus on delivering reliable, innovative and customer-centric mobility solutions. A key highlight during the month was the launch of the all-new Toyota Hilux, which further strengthens our SUV portfolio in India and reflects our commitment to offering aspirational, future-ready mobility solutions that cater to evolving customer needs. We remain focused on creating greater value for our customers and stakeholders.”