Taking suggestions from the Indians, the Czech carmaker picked the most popular name for its upcoming compact SUV, Kylaq.
The production of the upcoming Skoda Kylaq compact SUV will commence towards the end of this year. By early next year, the media drives will start, swiftly followed by the deliveries. We know that the compact SUV segment is one of the most brutally competitive categories in the Indian market. Most carmakers have their products in this space. Therefore, it won’t be easy to establish a new identity. Guided by the recent success of the Kushaq and Slavia, Skoda is confident that it understands the mindset and requirements of the Indian customers. Hence, it decided to take on the challenge and bring a new compact SUV at a competitive price.
Skoda Kylaq Production to Start in 2024
In a recent interview with OVERDRIVE, the Brand Director of Skoda India, Petr Janeba, revealed some intriguing details of the compact SUV. Firstly, he clarified that the world premiere will take place in India and the production will start by the end of this year. Secondly, he mentioned that the SUV would be available at a competitive price point. Finally, due to its attractive point and value-for-money proposition, the Czech car marque projects a sales target of 100,000 units in one year. He mentions that it took them 2 years to reach the same milestone with the Kushaq and Slavia together. But due to the mass market appeal of Kylaq, that time could be cut down in half.
Talking about the Skoda Kylaq, the aim is to leverage the heavily localized MQB A0 IN platform and components to ensure aggressive pricing without compromising on the quality and features. In addition to that, we know how capable and impressive the 1.0-litre TSI 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine is. That points to the fact that the Kylaq will be a great driver’s car, just like most Skoda and VW products. That could be the edge over its competitors. Also, buyers will be able to choose between manual and automatic transmissions. Now we just need to wait for more details.
Our View
During this interview, Petr Janeba also highlighted that India is Skoda’s biggest market outside Europe. Therefore, it has ambitious plans for one of the biggest car markets in the world. In addition to the compact SUV, Skoda will also bring many EVs to our market. In fact, by 2026, Skoda plans to launch 6 new EVs globally. Out of these, 3 EVs are planned for the Indian market with heavy levels of localization to keep the costs in check. Therefore, the future looks bright for the Czech car marque in our market.
Also Read: 2024 Skoda Kodiaq Spotted in India Sans Camo โ Launching Soon?