Has the 'Indian' car brand come of age?

● Consumers are no longer hung up on global badges

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

Škoda Auto Volkswagen India last week started production of the Kylaq, Škoda's third locally developed model following the Kushaq and Slavia, at the Pune manufacturing plant. The first deliveries to local customers is scheduled for January 2025.

Next year, Mahindra will start deliveries of BE 6 and XEV 9e electric SUVs - priced ₹20-30 lakh on-road - and Tata Motors is expected to drive in Sierra EV, Safari EV, and Avinya luxury EV whose price might touch ₹40 lakh.

Apart from regulars Maruti and Hyundai, Tata Motors' Punch and Nexon were among the Top 5 brands sold in November and ranked third and fourth.

Back in 2011, when Maruti Suzuki launched the luxury car Kizashi, it bombed. It was the carmaker's second failure, after the Grand Vitara luxury SUV in 2007. "Both were overpriced, but both were also perceived to be 'Indian' despite their Japanese roots," a former company employee told FE.