Skoda Auto India has hit highest-ever monthly sales in October, driven by the success of its new compact SUV, the Kylaq. This milestone, combined with the near-instant sell-out of the limited-edition Octavia RS, signals a significant upswing for the brand that is also celebrating its 25th year in the country.
Ashish Gupta, brand director, Skoda Auto India, told FE that the Kylaq – launched in January – has sold almost 40,000 units, and in October it helped Skoda Auto India sell 8,252 cars, the highest-ever monthly sales. “The Kylaq was the primary driver,” he said. “The visible presence of the SUV on the roads has further fuelled customer interest, creating a virtuous cycle of sales growth.”
The RS returns
The recent launch of the Octavia RS proved a massive hit, with the initial allocation of 100 units selling out in mere minutes. Gupta said the company has received over 350 bookings, far exceeding expectations. “Skoda is celebrating 25 years in India, and the natural choice for a celebration was to bring the Octavia RS,” he noted. “The Octavia is the brand that defined Skoda in India, and the RS is the pinnacle of Skoda engineering. With this car, we are fittingly celebrating 25 years of Skoda in India.”
Given the overwhelming demand, the company is actively working to import more units. “We’re planning to get more cars to India as early as next year – it will depend on what kind of quota we get from global production,” Gupta said.
The market surge
The recent festive season, coupled with the GST rate cut, led to record sales for the entire industry. Gupta believes that while the festive peak will naturally taper off, the underlying market momentum is unique this time around.
“The festive season is the peak for any year. But there’s something different this time – just to put my remarks in reference, I’m 50 years old, and this is the first time I have heard car prices going down. People will keep coming to showrooms,” he said, suggesting a fundamental shift in market dynamics and customer sentiment.
EVs and CNG
Skoda plans to maintain its product momentum, having already introduced three new cars this year: the Kylaq, Kodiaq, and Octavia RS. “This momentum will continue every year,” Gupta said.
Regarding electric vehicles, Gupta addressed the lack of an EV launch despite testing the Enyaq in the past. He cited policy uncertainties and ongoing global free trade agreement (FTA) discussions as key impediments to a stable product plan. “As soon as we have a little bit of policy stability, we will announce our plans,” he said.
Finally, while many competitors are focusing on CNG, Skoda currently has no offering. Gupta sees this as a key growth opportunity, particularly for models like the Kylaq. “CNG makes a lot of sense… It’s definitely an option, and we are planning to work on it. I cannot comment right now on CNG timelines, but CNG is a growth opportunity,” he concluded.
The strong performance of the Kylaq and the successful reintroduction of the Octavia RS suggest that Skoda Auto India is firmly in a growth phase, well-equipped to leverage the positive wave in the Indian automotive market.