Mumbai:
Silver jubilees are usually marked with cake-cutting and nostalgia. Škoda Auto India, however, chose a far more automotive way to celebrate—by flooring the accelerator. In its 25th anniversary year, the Czech carmaker delivered its biggest-ever performance in India, clocking sales of 72,665 cars in 2025, a massive 107% year-on-year growth over 2024. Not bad for a birthday year—some brands get candles, Škoda got customers.
Guided by sharp business imperatives and firmly anchored in the pillars of relevance, differentiation and trust, 2025 turned out to be a landmark chapter in Škoda’s Indian journey. The result: its strongest product line-up, widest network reach, and a renewed emotional connect with Indian car buyers.
Products That Did the Heavy Lifting
Škoda’s product offensive read like a well-curated playlist—something for everyone, and hits back-to-back. The newly introduced Kylaq emerged as a major growth driver, widening the brand’s appeal and accessibility. Meanwhile, the Kushaq and Slavia continued their steady run, the Kodiaq strengthened the brand’s premium SUV credentials, and the return of the Octavia RS proved that performance cars still have a very enthusiastic fan club in India (with loud cheers and louder exhaust notes).
The brand also crossed a significant milestone during the year—over 200,000 locally produced cars sold since 2021, reinforcing the success of its India 2.0 strategy.
Network Expansion: Going Where the Customers Are
In 2025, Škoda didn’t just sell more cars—it showed up in more places. The network expanded to over 325 customer touchpoints across 183 cities, bringing European engineering closer to Indian driveways. Much of this growth came alongside long-standing dealer partners, complemented by new partners known for customer-centric operations.
Brand Building with a Cultural Twist
Beyond metal and machines, Škoda sharpened its brand voice in 2025. India became the first large global market to complete a 100% network rebranding under the new corporate identity—giving customers a modern, unified experience nationwide.
Adding star power to the mix, actor Ranveer Singh came on board as Škoda Auto India’s first-ever Brand Superstar, injecting youthful energy and pop-culture relevance. Campaigns like ‘Fans, Not Owners’ highlighted the deep emotional bond customers share with the brand, while the Octavia RS campaign—featuring global sitar maestro Rishab Sharma—gave performance storytelling a contemporary, cultural edge.
Trust, Built Mile by Mile
Trust remained central to Škoda’s strategy. The brand expanded its combined sales and aftersales workforce to over 7,500 professionals, supported by 25,000+ training days in 2025. Ownership benefits were enhanced with extended standard warranties and feature-led value upgrades aimed at lowering costs and improving peace of mind.
Škoda also reinforced trust through headline-making initiatives. The Fans of Škoda Leh expedition earned recognition from the India and Asia Book of Records for the largest convoy to reach Umling La, once the world’s highest motorable road. Not to be outdone, the Kodiaq became the first petrol-powered SUV to reach the North Face base camp of Mount Everest—because proving reliability sometimes means going where the air is thin and excuses are thinner.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As Škoda Auto India drives into 2026, the roadmap is clear: new product introductions, sharper sales and aftersales initiatives, deeper market penetration, and an even stronger focus on listening to customers.
After 25 years, Škoda isn’t just celebrating its past in India—it’s clearly having a lot of fun building its future. And if 2025 is any indication, the next lap could be even faster.
