Skoda Auto has achieved a historic production milestone in India by rolling out its 500,000th locally manufactured car. This accomplishment aligns with two major celebrations for the brand — 25 years of Skoda’s operations in India and 130 years of its global legacy. The Czech carmaker also recorded its highest-ever half-yearly sales in H1 2025, delivering 36,194 units — a massive 134% growth over H1 2024.

Skoda Strengthens its Manufacturing Footprint in India

Skoda’s manufacturing journey in India began in 2001 with the first Octavia assembled at the Aurangabad plant, now called Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Since then, its product portfolio has grown with popular models like the Laura, Superb, Kodiaq, and more recently, the Kushaq, Slavia, and Kylaq — Skoda’s first sub-4-metre SUV.

Out of the total 5 lakh units produced so far, about 70% were manufactured at the Pune facility, while the remaining were assembled in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. These two state-of-the-art plants have now become a crucial part of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India’s strategy — not just for local production, but also as a global export base.

Skoda is now exporting components from India for international assembly, notably for Vietnam, where the Kushaq and Slavia are being built using parts sourced from Indian operations. This aligns with the Government of India’s “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative and positions India as a strategic hub in Skoda’s global supply chain.

Skoda’s Sales Soar with New Models Like Kylaq

Skoda’s retail momentum has matched its manufacturing growth. The brand posted its highest-ever monthly sales in India in March 2025, delivering 7,422 units. For the January–June 2025 period, the total wholesale tally stood at 36,194 units — not only surpassing H1 2024 by 134%, but also breaking Skoda’s previous half-yearly sales record of 28,899 units from 2022.

This surge in demand has been driven by successful new launches and deeper market penetration. The Kylaq, launched in November 2024, has significantly boosted volumes by attracting new buyers, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Improved localisation, dealer expansion, and a customer-first approach have also helped Skoda gain market share.

As a result, Skoda now ranks among the top seven car manufacturers by volume in India — a first in its two-and-a-half-decade history in the country.

Leadership Speaks on Skoda India’s Milestone

Commenting on the production landmark, Andreas Dick, Skoda Auto a.s. Board Member for Production and Logistics, said,

“Reaching the milestone of 500,000 cars produced in India is a proud testament to our strategic vision of unwavering commitment to India and operational excellence. By nurturing local engineering talent and embedding global manufacturing processes, we’ve built an ecosystem that is agile, scalable, and responsive to a dynamically changing environment that meets the highest international standards. This achievement reflects the synergy between world-class innovation and India’s growing industrial prowess.”

Piyush Arora, CEO & Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, added,

“It is not just about manufacturing 500,000 cars, but building and nurturing 500,000 connections. Every car that rolls out of our production lines, shares DNA of European engineering with unmatched quality, crafted with precision; delivering supreme comfort, safety, technology and driving dynamics. This achievement belongs as much to our customers as it does to our employees. Because what we’re manufacturing here isn’t just mobility, it’s a belief in what India can make for domestic as well as international markets. India plays a pivotal role in the Group’s growth strategy. I am glad to mention that we achieve this manufacturing milestone in the same year as Skoda Auto celebrates 130 years of legacy globally and 25 years of presence in India.”

With growing customer trust, a solid workforce, and a strong localisation strategy, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India is now positioned as a key player not just in the Indian market but in global operations as well. The company continues to shape the future of mobility from India — for India and the world.