Latest news with #Slavia
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skoda expands sales outlets, adds 2 more in Jaipur
Jaipur: Skoda Auto India is ramping up its sales and service touchpoints in India to keep pace with its rising market share that has increased from 0.8% in 2024 to 1.8% by the end of May this year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the past six months, the Czech carmaker has also climbed to the 7th position from 11th in 2024 in the industry pecking order. During the opening of two dealerships in Jaipur, Ashish Gupta, brand director, Škoda Auto India, said, "Currently, Skoda has 300 touchpoints in the country, growing from 260 by the end of 2024. But we are expecting to close the calendar year with 350 touchpoints." Speaking on the network in Rajasthan, Gupta said that the OEM has 19 touchpoints in Rajasthan including four sales outlets and two service centres in Jaipur. Rajasthan has been a high growth market for Skoda that gets around 9-10% of its sales from the state. "Besides the big metros and tier-I cities, we are looking at developing states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and others to expand our network," added Gupta. The Volkswagen AG-owned automaker currently sells models like Kylaq, Kodiaq, Slavia, and Kushaq in India.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Confident of Kushaq sales bouncing back in 1-2 months: New Skoda boss. Facelift coming soon
The newly launched Skoda Kylaq has been cannibalising sales of the Kushaq within the brand's stable. Nevertheless, the compact SUV is set to receive benefits, discounts, and a facelift soon Check Offers The Skoda Kushaq has seen a dip in volumes in the last few months, with the newly launched Kylaq cannibalising sales of its elder sibling in the brand's stable. With both models sharing the same underpinnings and even the feature list, the Kylaq has witnessed a phenomenal growth since sales began in March this year, albeit at the cost of the Kushaq. Nevertheless, Skoda Auto India's new boss, Ashish Gupta, says the sales volumes will come back to the Kushaq in the next one to two months. Why Kushaq Sales Dropped This Year? Explaining why sales have taken a beating for the Kushaq, Ashish Gupta said, 'It's not like demand for the Kushaq has gone down. Instead, our dealerships were used to deal with a certain type of customer. Our dealers knew how to handle that customer base very well. With the introduction of the Kylaq, a completely different set of customers are coming to our dealerships. Our staff is now on the learning curve on how to handle customers for these two completely different cars. And that learning is fast because the sales pressure is always there. I am confident that in the next one or two months, the Kushaq will bounce back." Also Read : Skoda Auto India aims for 2.5% market share in FY2026, outlines growth plan 'Of course, easier said than done, we will also, as a brand, have to take certain actions. We know that the Kushaq is now in the fourth year of its lifecycle. We know that we will have to maybe go aggressive in the market to compete with the rivals that exist in the market. There is already pressure on stocks, discounts are at an all-time high, so we will have to play the game," he added further. The Skoda Kushaq is built at SAVWIPL's Chakan facility in Maharashtra, alongside the Slavia and Kylaq, as well as the VW Taigun and Virtus Skoda Kushaq Sales Report Between March and May 2025, Skoda sold an average of 775 units of the Kushaq, a stark drop when compared to average sales of 1,624 units between December 2024 and February 2025. Meanwhile, Kushaq sales averaged about 1,546 units between July and November 2024. Ashish hinted at rolling out special benefits for the Kushaq to get sales back on track, while also acknowledging that a comprehensive update is in need. The Skoda Kushaq arrived in the market in 2021 and expanded the automaker's addressable market share to 21 per cent, up from just seven per cent in 2020. With the Kylaq, the brand's addressable market has risen to 58 per cent in 2025. Also Read : Skoda Kylaq may get a new variant, petrol-CNG powertrain in the plan The Skoda Kushaq facelift will see new styling and more features to tackle the highly competitive compact SUV segment Skoda Kushaq Facelift In The Works Thankfully, Skoda India is working on the Kushaq facelift that is currently under development. We've seen the test mules on several occasions, with the camouflaged bits indicating cosmetic changes to the front and rear, in line with the new 'Modern Solid' design language, which debuted on the Kylaq in India. Skoda is also expected to increase the feature quotient on the SUV with Level 2 ADAS, a 360-degree camera, a higher quality rearview camera, and more, as part of the package. The Kushaq facelift will continue with the same 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine options. The former makes 114 bhp and 178 Nm paired with a 6-speed manual and a torque converter. The latter produces 148 bhp and 250 Nm, paired with the 7-speed DSG automatic. The updated offering is expected to arrive sometime next year. Prices for the Skoda Kushaq range currently start from ₹ 11 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 14 Jun 2025, 16:17 PM IST
India Today
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
This European automaker has big plans for India
2025 is the year that marks Skoda's 130-year legacy, which includes a rich history of automobiles. In India, the brand has been around for 25 years and has had some iconic models, which have come to define it. Recently, Skoda Auto India outlined key brand, product, network, and customer-centric initiatives to further drive growth in the country. This includes enhancing customer trust, expanding to new local markets and launching relevant products in the market. Ashish Gupta, brand director, Skoda Auto India. advertisementAshish Gupta, brand director, Skoda Auto India, stated, 'India is the most important growth market for Skoda Auto outside Europe. We are focused on building a strong, future-ready brand with strength of purpose, clarity of vision, and agility of execution. Our product offensive strategy is in tune with evolving consumer needs and aspirations, fuelling our journey of progress. We are getting closer to customers, strategically expanding our network, and reinforcing our legacy of quality, safety, and value. With the wheels in motion across all our business imperatives, 2025 will be the year where we significantly strengthen the brand and surge ahead in India.' Skoda Octavia RS advertisementSkoda's current range includes the Kylaq, Kushaq, Slavia and Kodiaq. The Czech automobile manufacturer has plans to bring a new model to India in the year 2025, and it is likely to be the latest generation of the Octavia RS. Skoda refers to this upcoming launch as a 'global icon'. Furthermore, Skoda Auto India will continue to expand its horizons to tier II and tier III markets. Currently, the brand is present in over 165 cities, and there are plans in place to expand this to over 200 cities by 2025. The company has already grown from 120 customer touchpoints in 2021 to over 290, with an aim for 350 touchpoints by the end of 2025. Skoda Kylaq Interestingly, Skoda also plans to enter the pre-owned car business and further cater to government agencies and other fleets. Last but certainly not least, the VW-owned automotive brand will focus on the quality of the purchase and ownership experience. Skoda Supercare, which is standard across its range, is one such initiative that ensures customers pay for their routine service only at the end of their second year of ownership or after completing 30,000km (whichever is earlier).Subscribe to Auto Today MagazineMust Watch
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Škoda Auto India focuses on automatic vehicles to propel its growth
Škoda Auto India, celebrating 25 years in India, has now decided to focus on automatic cars as a major differentiating factor to power its next round of growth. While the industry automatic average is 25%, it is 53% for Škoda Auto and the company plans to take it to over 70%, Ashish Gupta, brand director, Škoda Auto India told The Hindu. 'We are very strong in automatic and have a robust portfolio. We want to play on our strength in the market. Our automatic technology is proven and there is opportunity in the market and we can influence this as a strategy,' he said. With this the company is planning to double its market share in 2025 from 1.8% from year till date and 0.9% in 2024. Besides this it plans to retain its number 7 rank among passenger car companies in the country which it has achieved from 11th position previously, he said. 'India is the most important growth market for Škoda Auto outside Europe. We are focused on building a strong, future-ready brand with strength of purpose, clarity of vision, and agility of execution,' Mr Gupta said. 'Our product offensive strategy is in tune with evolving consumer needs and aspirations, fuelling our journey of progress. We are getting closer to customers, strategically expanding our network, and reinforcing our legacy of quality, safety, and value,' he said. 'With the wheels in motion across all our business imperatives, 2025 will be the year where we significantly strengthen the brand and surge ahead in India,' he added. In products line up Škoda Auto India which is having a strong SUV portfolio with its slogan 'SUV for Everyone' with the Kylaq, Kushaq, and Kodiaq SUVs which are positioned at different price points, the company said it will build its sedan legacy driven by the Slavia and a soon-to-be-launched 'global icon'. Škoda Auto India is expanding to tier II and tier III markets. From over 165 cities today, It targets to be present in over 200 cities this year. The company has already grown from 120 customer touchpoints in 2021 to over 290 today, with an aim for 350 touchpoints by the end of 2025. Škoda Auto India said it would further strengthen its certified pre-owned business to power its growth. While it already caters to government agencies and other fleets, it will focus on renewed actions at garnering further growth from these avenues, while enhancing corporate and rural channels.
India Today
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Skoda's day out: Kylaq, Slavia Monte Carlo, Kodiaq and beyond!
Our day began with the RoRo ferry from Mumbai's Princess Dock to Alibaug, which is approximately 100km from the financial capital's mainland to the island town. This journey usually takes around two hours by road, but thanks to the ferry, we were across in just an hour. The impressive Kodiaq lounge aboard the ferry served as a reminder of the Czech brand's presence in our country, which has been around in India for the past 25 years. Upon arrival at the Mandwa jetty port, we were treated to a compact and neatly designed tarmac course, which would serve as the appetiser. The Kylaq's compact dimensions make it an able handler. advertisementSkoda had prepared for us to take on said course, which included a handling section, moose test, acceleration-braking and slalom section to whet our appetite. After a demo lap from the instructors, it was first time to unleash the might-impressive Kylaq, which handled all sections with calm and ease. Sure, the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder TSI motor suffered from a slight lack of power under 2,000rpm, but it came to life beyond that and had well-contained body roll throughout. Its compact dimensions and attractive design language make it a tasty proposition in the sub-4m SUV segment in the country. The handling course included two right-handers and two left-handers, all of which had varying degrees of turn-in. advertisementNext up, there was a choice to be made. Either take the 1.5-litre, four-cylinder TSI-equipped Kushaq or Slavia for the same course. I opted to go for the sedan, simply because I've always had a soft corner for both the Virtus and Slavia. Also, it is quite a looker in its 'Monte Carlo' guise, finished in 'Tornado Red' with those additional mini side and front skirts. Nevertheless, Slavia also proved to be impressive around this mini-track of sorts. Its body roll felt more predictable, yet kept it tight in the corners, and the moose test, or the 'cow' test, in our country. The Kylaq held its own in the moose test, as well. Both the Kylaq and Slavia are testaments to Skoda's commitment to offering vehicles that feel premium, offer a good set of features, with an element of excitement. Ashish Gupta, brand director, Skoda Auto India, explained later in the day about Skoda's renewed commitment, which focuses on three key pillars - relevance, differentiation and trust. The first is to offer relevant products, which make sense for our market at different and accessible price points. The second is to have a clear path to distinguish it from the rest of the competition. And the third, and perhaps most crucial, is to improve the service experience and build a strong sense of community with the Skoda brand in India. The Slavia also impressed with its minimal body roll and plenty of power on tap. After completing the track experience, it was time for a short drive over to the off-road course. Lying in wait was Skoda's flagship model in India, which we've already had a chance to drive and sample, but not quite like this. Once again, there was a briefing to explain the facets of the course Skoda had prepared, and although it may not have been an extensive one, it certainly had a few tricky sections that required utmost attention. For example, there were steep inclines and declines, articulation sections, ditches, and a braking test section as well. Minimal steering input was key in some sections of the off-road course. advertisementDuring the demo run with the instructor, it was important to follow the rule of 'ASAP' or as slow as possible. Also, steering inputs have to be kept to a minimum, and unlike the tarmac section, it is important not to keep your thumbs locked into the steering wheel, as in some parts of the off-road course, the steering could bite back, and this could potentially be a cause for injury. Thankfully, the Kodiaq kept us cocooned in luxury, whilst taking on the course with relative ease. Its hill descent control came into play on those sharp declines, and its traction control system on the half-and-half braking section, which had a paved and mud section. The safety-based electronics came into play on more than one occasion. The ditch section too was a breeze as the Kodiaq managed its weight extremely well, and there was never a cause for concern or lack of power from the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TSI motor. The large screen in the cabin had the position of the wheel and the level of degrees to which the tyres turn, right there in front of us, to further aid us during this off-road course. It's safe to say that the Kodiaq is at the helm of Skoda's line-up in India, and it's for good reason, too. It's a demonstration of the kind of products the 130-year-old brand can produce, and there is another iconic model to join its ranks soon. The freshly appointed brand director and Skoda Auto India claim that 2025 will be the brand's biggest year yet. For a sharp incline, its best feed the throttle consistently and not loose momentum. advertisementSkoda will also be concentrating on emphasising the importance and democratisation of the automatic gearbox, especially through products like the Kylaq, which offers a six-speed torque converter. Just in the last year, Skoda claims to have risen from the 11th position to the seventh position, as far as auto brands in India are concerned. In 2025, Skoda hopes to increase its market share and growth in sales volumes by two times, and also increase customer, sales and aftersales touchpoints across multiple cities. The brand also plans to foray into the pre-owned car business soon, and the brand-new product scheduled to arrive this year could very well be the latest generation of the revered Octavia to Auto Today Magazine The articulation section doesn't require throttle input; it's best to let the vehicle proceed at its own pace.
