Skoda’s Kushaq and Slavia, key components of the Czech brand’s India 2.0 strategy, have been in the market for 2.5 years and 2 years, respectively. However, to keep up with competitors and address consumer demands, Skoda acknowledges the need to enhance their features. Petr Janeba, Skoda’s brand director, admits that their midsize models lack Level 2 autonomous driver assistance systems (ADAS), a feature present in rivals like Honda City and Hyundai Creta. Nonetheless, Skoda plans to rectify this with upcoming facelifts, gradually introducing ADAS 2.0 across their MQB A0-IN platform.
With Skoda’s India 2.5 strategy in play, upcoming models, including a compact SUV slated for March 2025, are expected to incorporate ADAS suites. This move ensures that Skoda doesn’t lag behind competitors like Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet, who already offer such technology in their compact SUVs. Janeba acknowledges the fast-paced nature of the Indian market and expresses Skoda’s commitment to catching up, not only through facelifts but also by introducing new features along the way.
As part of this strategy, Skoda aims to expand its features list and bridge the gap with competitors. Special editions like Elegance and Style have been introduced for mass-market models, and Skoda plans to continue this trend. Moreover, upcoming models like the compact SUV will introduce features absent in current models, such as a 360-degree camera. This strategy ensures that by the time the compact SUV launches, not only will it boast advanced features like ADAS and a 360-degree camera, but the Kushaq and Slavia are also likely to receive these upgrades, along with others.