Skoda India announces new compact SUV, mid-2025 launch expected

Key Highlights

• The new sub-4m SUV from Skoda India will be launched in mid-2025.
• The compact SUV will be priced aggressively.
• It will be underpinned by the automaker’s MQB platform, which is specially designed for India.

Skoda India has announced its plans to introduce a new compact SUV in India next year. This will be the automaker’s third ‘Made for India’ product, following Kushaq and Slavia. It will be underpinned by the same platform as the other two made-for-India offerings. The automaker is planning a mid-2025 launch for the compact SUV. Skoda India has also announced a naming contest for the upcoming SUV.

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Skoda India: Third Made-For-India SUV launching next year

The upcoming compact SUV from Skoda India will be underpinned by the MQB-A0-IN platform which was first introduced on the Kushaq SUV in 2021. Developed by Skoda’s teams in India and the Czech Republic, this platform focuses on high localisation, low cost of ownership, and quick turnaround times. This platform also underpins the made-for-India Slavia sedan.

Skoda India has also confirmed that its upcoming SUV will be less than 4 metres in length. This will make it eligible for less excise duties, leading to a reduced price. The SUV will be Skoda’s entry-level offering in India. The automaker plans on penetrating the Tier 3 markets in the country with the launch of the new SUV.

The MQB platform has been pivotal in earning the Kushaq and Slavia a 5-star rating in Global NCAP crash tests. The two cars were tested under the updated, more stringent test protocols laid forward by the GNCAP. The automaker has been successful in localising the production process for the Kushaq and Slavia by 95% due to the ground-up design and development of the MQB platform.

Speaking on the announcement, Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Škoda Auto a.s, said, “India is crucial to the global growth of Škoda Auto, both because of its own market strength and as a development and manufacturing base for our expansion in new markets including ASEAN and the Middle East. We have more than doubled sales in India since 2021 and we are now taking the next step by further expanding the range of models designed for customers in India and internationally. The all-new compact SUV due in 2025 will add an important segment for customers. I’m confident the expanding Škoda portfolio will contribute to our India growth target of achieving a market share for the Volkswagen family of brands of around 5 percent by 2030.”

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Conclusion

Skoda India has also announced a naming contest for its upcoming SUV. Previously, the Kushaq was named after the Sanskrit word for emperor and Slavia was named after the bicycle, which was the first ever product launched by the company in 1895. Upon launch, the new compact SUV from Skoda India will rival the likes of Nissan Magnite, Hyundai Exter, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and Tata Punch.