Building on its success India 2.0 Strategywhich helped the company achieve 1,00,000 unit sales in just two years – the shortest time period in its history in India – Skoda India is preparing to launch the 2024 Kodiaq. While Kushaq And Slavia The top contributors to this impressive volume were the Kodiaq, which also achieved its highest ever sales during this period. To put this achievement in perspective, it had previously taken Skoda over six years to reach this milestone.
we talked about Petr GenebaBrand Director Skoda IndiaTo know more about the updated Kodiaq, the company’s strategic plans and the expected arrival of other models, especially EVs, visit our website.
Skoda Kodiaq: Kushaq and Slavia ahead, but Kodiaq impresses too
Jeneba said that since its launch in 2017, the Kodiaq has been a game-changer for the brand globally and in India. “Kodiaq marked our entry into the seven-seater SUV segment. It has not only enhanced our brand image but also attracted a new customer base.” As the Kodiaq celebrates its seventh anniversary, the carmaker is offering a seven-day special celebration with 7 per cent customer benefits.
In India, the company believes the Kodiaq has carved a unique niche, offering consistent sales with its single engine, platform and four-wheel-drive automatic DSG system. “Surprisingly, in India, where the market is largely driven by novelty, the car has been very stable except for the initial surge,” he said.
Skoda India: Upcoming EV launches
The carmaker has planned aggressive lineup expansion for the next 12-14 months. Apart from the new Kodiaq, the brand is planning to launch a compact SUV. Octavia vRSand updates to the Kushaq and Slavia (these will not be facelifts). However, some of the highlights will be the expected arrival of two all-new electric vehicles. Enyaq The EV, which was first showcased at the India Mobility Show earlier this year, is something the company plans to bring in Elroc However, there is a condition placed on bringing EVs to our shores.
Currently, mass-market EVs are doing quite well, however, at the higher-end of the spectrum, Jeneba believes there are challenges in the market. “The government needs to create supportive regulations for faster adoption. We have a new EV, the Elroc, which will launch in Europe next year. We are evaluating whether to bring it to India along with the Enyaq under the new government support scheme. If the policy allows, we can bring more cars, potentially up to 8,000 annually across brands. If not, we will start with a limited number, focusing on the Enyaq.”
“If the government’s EV policy is favourable, we may launch the Enyaq and Elroc EVs simultaneously in 2026,” Jeneba said.
India is a bigger market for Skoda than China and the biggest market outside Europe | TOI Auto
Skoda Kodiaq Facelift: Launch Timeline
For the 2024 Kodiaq, the company is currently installing new logistics storage racks, as most of the parts, including the chassis, are imported from Europe and assembled at its Indian plant. While some components like the engine are locally produced, the rest are imported and assembled here. However, the launch may only happen by mid-2025, Genba confirmed.
“The new model will come next year, as planned. We will sell the current model till the end of this year, then take a break of three to six months before launching the new model. If sales pick up during our seven-day festive offer, we may speed up the process. The earliest we may launch the new Kodiaq is in May or June next year.”
However, before the Kodiaq, the company will launch a sub-four metre SUV in the country, most likely in February 2025.
Skoda Kodiaq facelift: Key benefits
Apart from all the cosmetic and feature upgrades, the facelifted model will launch in India with two major changes. It will be available with more variants to choose from, including a seven-seater as well as a five-seater option. Apart from these changes, it will retain the same powertrain and engine. This clearly indicates that the brand is trying to carry forward the legacy of the product, however, this time it is being made available to a wider spectrum of customers. In the current-gen model, the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder TSI petrol engine makes 187 bhp and 320 Nm of peak torque.
Skoda India Network Expansion
With the brand’s multiple product launches, the carmaker is looking to expand its network in India, especially in tier 3 markets. Currently, it has 200 sales touch points across the country. These showrooms cover 100 per cent of tier 1 cities and 99 per cent of tier 2 cities, leaving room for expansion in tier 3 cities. Moreover, with over 3 lakh cars in India, the company also plans to add more service centres to the mix. “With the compact SUV launching in February, we aim to significantly increase our touchpoints,” Jeneba said. “By the end of 2025, we plan to have 280-300 touchpoints for both sales and aftersales.”
