Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has become the latest carmaker in the country to have achieved a 5-star Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP) rating for the Skoda Kylaq SUV. This also makes it the first vehicle by the Group to have been voluntarily assessed and aced the test for both adult and child occupants.

Launched in 2023, by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), the Bharat NCAP aims to address road traffic fatalities and injuries in the country by improving vehicle safety standards.

The Skoda Kylaq is the brand’s first sub-4 metre SUV especially designed and developed for the Indian market. The Kylaq scored 30.88 points of 32 points in adult occupant protection and 45 points out of 49 points in child occupant protection.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Safety is at the heart of our engineering philosophy, and Skoda Kylaq exemplifies this ethos. I’m proud to mention that Kylaq is our first car to participate and receive full 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for adult and child occupants. The 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for Kylaq highlights our continued focus on creating vehicles that combine world-class safety standards, cutting-edge technology and manufacturing excellence. With the growing demand for safer cars, the Bharat NCAP rating empowers consumers to make informed decisions, ensuring protection for self and family. Equipped with the world-class active and passive safety features across variants, Kylaq has set a new benchmark in the segment. This motivates us to raise the bar even higher for future innovations.”

The Kylaq achieved 15.035 out of 16 points in the frontal offset barrier test for adult occupant protection, demonstrating a stable occupant compartment and footwell. In the side-moving deformable barrier test, it scored 15.840 points out of 16 points. For child occupant protection, Kylaq earned the maximum possible 16 points in the frontal offset barrier test and full 8 points in the side-moving deformable barrier test for 1.5 and 3-year-old children. Furthermore, the vehicle secured maximum points in the recommended child seat assessment and 9 out of 13 points in the vehicle-based assessment.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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