The launch of a small SUV in February of this year was a strong indication of Škoda Auto's plans to expand the brand in India.

October 15, 2024, Mumbai The launch of a small SUV in February of this year was a strong indication of Škoda Auto's plans to expand the brand in India. The Kylaq, which will make its world debut on November 6, 2024, was given its name in a nationwide naming process. With the Kylaq, Škoda Auto India will provide a variety of SUVs, such as the luxurious Kodiaq and the mid-sized SUV Kushaq, which is the first vehicle from Škoda Auto's India 2.0 initiative. With the Kylaq, Škoda Auto will be able to compete in the sub-4m sector, which accounts for over 30% of the Indian auto industry and is one of the fastest-growing segments in the country.

With its modern, bold, and muscular appearance, established Škoda driving characteristics, rigorous safety, and a strong combination of amenities that make it an appealing value offering, the Kylaq is poised to introduce a new dimension to the compact SUV market. With the introduction of the Kylaq, Škoda Auto will usher in a "New Era" in India, the brand's most significant market outside of Europe.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India says, “I’m proud to present Kylaq – the first compact SUV from Škoda India. Kylaq is designed and made with high levels of localisation, thereby strengthening our ‘Make In India’ commitment. It represents the Group’s DNA of driving dynamic, safety and comfort, along with the practical features desired by our value conscious customers. I’m sure the product will resonate with Indian customers mindset. Kylaq, designed and engineered in India, for India will be a gamechanger.”

Another blockbuster in the making

The core of Škoda Auto India's strategy was established by the 2021 launch of the Škoda Kushaq and the 2022 introduction of the Slavia. Teams from the Czech Republic and India collaborated to develop it, emphasizing rapid turnaround times, cheap cost of ownership, and high localization. It is the company's first platform created outside of Europe specifically for the Indian market.

Jiří Dytrych, Head of Product Management, Škoda Auto, shares, “It is a moment of great pride for me and our team to see the Kylaq getting closer to making its world debut in India. The MQB-A0-IN was conceived to be a highly flexible, modular and versatile platform. You all know the Kushaq and Slavia to be much larger, above 4-metre cars. Both these cars have been pivotal in the growing focus on having safer cars in India. At the development stage itself, this platform was conceived to also accommodate an under 4-metre car like the Kylaq, and has the same spirit of unmatched driving dynamics, leading safety and proven quality. We take safety a notch higher with a best-in-segment hot formed steel for the front crash module, to ensure best cabin safety. The key features of the car are always space and comfort for the driver and passengers. The Kylaq will offer first-in-class six-way adjustable driver and passenger seats with ventilation function. The Kylaq will lead our presence, in the fastest-growing and most competitive segment in India.”

Modern, Bold and Muscular: Kylaq to appeal to a new set of customers

A few images of this brand-new SUV have been released by Škoda Auto India. It will make its world debut on November 6, 2024. The Kylaq was created with the changing needs and desires of Indian consumers in mind. In India, the Škoda global design language will be implemented. The simplicity, firmness, and quality of Škoda cars are reflected in the design's clean, simple lines. The car's posture and road presence are improved by the bold, muscular curves surrounding the fenders.

In order to handle uneven road surfaces, this Škoda will also feature a high ground clearance and room around the wheel, which will give the vehicle an SUV feel. The design will incorporate elements like precise and elegant DRL light signatures while keeping the front end's typical Škoda SUV language. Additionally, the forthcoming SUV will have a hexagon pattern on the side and back of the vehicle, adding to the design's worth.

Jan Bures, Executive Director, Sales, Marketing and Digital, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India says, “The Kylaq is just around the corner from making its debut in the world. It has been developed and even named keeping in mind evolving customer trends and aspirations in India. The under 4m segment makes up nearly 30% of the marketshare in the Indian passenger car sector. And the Kylaq, we believe, is adept at tapping this segment. It will also take us to new markets among tier 3 and 4 centres and bring new customers into our fold. With the response to this pre-production version, I will say with comfort and confidence that the Kylaq is on track to make its debut soon and will enable us to achieve further growth and inroads into the Indian market.”

With a 129-year history worldwide, Škoda Auto is commemorating 24 years in India. In terms of sales, 2022 was its best year. The company sold more than 100,000 cars in two years, including 2023. It had previously taken the company six years to reach the milestone, demonstrating the quick growth it has pursued since the MQB-A0-IN platform was implemented.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India shares, “Expanding our portfolio is a key part of our growth strategy which will enable us to welcome more customers into the Škoda family. We committed to adding a new SUV – Kylaq -- to our offerings, and we are well on track for our biggest-ever launch in India. This is a huge milestone in our India journey, and will enable us to double our addressable market share. From the teasers shared, you can tell that this will be a stunning-looking SUV. The Kylaq is now undergoing the final set of testing, and as a result we cannot reveal the car in all its glory, yet. The Kylaq is the car that will democratise European technology in India. Among other things, it has over 25 active and passive safety features standard across all its variants, and about 30 in specific variants. The Kylaq is almost ready for its debut, and will lead the charts when it comes to safety and dynamics.”

Power, performance, safety

The Kylaq's 1.0 TSI engine, which has been shown to be reliable and efficient, is paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine generates 178 Nm of torque and 85 Kw of power. The vehicle shares its MQB-A0-IN platform with the Slavia and Kushaq. Global NCAP tests for adults and children have already given these two vehicles a perfect 5-star rating. Six airbags, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, brake disc wiping, rollover protection, motor slip regulation, electronic differential lock, passenger airbag deactivation, multi-collision braking, ISOFIX seats, and many more active and passive safety features are standard on the Kylaq.

To the moon and back

Over 800,000 kilometers of Indian terrain—including cities, highways, hills, and difficult roads—have been used to test the Kylaq. The distance from Earth to the moon and back is less than that. and almost 20 journeys around the earth's circumference. From sea level to 3,000 meters above sea level, this brand-new little SUV has been tested in temperatures ranging from -10 to +85 degrees Celsius. 100 randomly selected samples of the Kylaq have been exposed to 25–30 liters per minute/square meter of water at an angle of up to 16 degrees in order to guarantee complete monsoon preparation and ideal sealing from the environment.

This guarantees that during severe monsoons, there is no water intrusion into the Kylaq. To make sure the interiors of the Kylaq are quiet and rattle-free on all types of roads, it has also undergone a vehicle shaker test. To make sure there is no discoloration, distortion, or loss of functionality under intense sunlight or other environmental conditions, the car has also been exposed to open outdoors for two years.

The Kylaq's 189 mm of ground clearance made sure it could handle any obstacle it encountered during the test. Additionally, the Kylaq is subjected to many quality control procedures during the manufacturing process, guaranteeing industry-leading dynamics and safety. The Kylaq's geometry is robotized, the roof and other joints are laser-blazed, the chassis is measured inline at two points, and AI cameras at the assembly line check the engine surface for variances and irregularities. Additionally, the Kylaq has the finest safety in the segment because to its hot-stamped steel and updated crash management system.