Skoda automobiles saw strong year-over-year growth, with Kylaq and Slavia leading the way.
Sales of Volkswagen declined, while Virtus is still a strong performer.
In the Indian passenger car market, Skoda and Volkswagen saw some intriguing results in January 2026.
In addition to increasing overall sales compared to the same month the previous year, Skoda India demonstrated impressive results for a few important models, including the Kylaq and Slavia.
In the meantime, Volkswagen's volume narrative was uneven, with flagship models and SUVs seeing weaker demand while the sedan Virtus held up very strongly.
Sales Trends Overall, January 2026
In January 2026, Skoda Auto India reported 5,739 units sold, around 39% increase over January 2025 sales. Following a string of seasonal swings, this slight month-over-month (MoM) improvement over December 2025 also suggests a resurgence of buyer interest.
For the same month, the Volkswagen brand sold 2,710 units, and both year-over-year and month-over-month trends indicate that demand is weakening for the majority of models, with a few exceptions.
Sales Breakdown for Skoda Models
| Model | Jan 2026 Sales | Dec 2025 Sales | Jan 2025 Sales | MoM% | YoY% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylaq | 3,220 | 3,668 | 1,242 | -12.21 | 159.26 |
| Slavia | 1946 | 711 | 1,510 | 173.70 | 28.87 |
| Kushaq | 434 | 958 | 1,371 | -54.70 | -68.34 |
| Kodiaq | 139 | 230 | 10 | -39.57 | 1290.00 |
| Octavia | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - |
| Superb | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - |
| Total Skoda | 5,739 | 5,567 | 4,133 | 3.09 | 38.86 |
Even though sales of Skoda's small SUV Kylaq decreased marginally from December, the vehicle continued to dominate the market in January. Nonetheless, its demand was much higher than it was in January 2025, demonstrating the market's great acceptance of it since its introduction.
There is a resurgent interest in mid-sized sedans, as evidenced by the Slavia sedan's impressive growth both month over month and year over year. The decline in Kushaq, on the other hand, continued a difficult run compared to recent months.
Over a low base from the previous year, the high-end Kodiaq SUV had a little but significant increase.
Highlights of Volkswagen Models
The Virtus sedan was Volkswagen's best-selling model, with strong sales and slight growth over the previous year, despite weaker month-to-month figures. Sales of the larger vehicles, such as the Tiguan, were limited, while the smaller SUV Taigun had lower volumes.
The goal of the next redesigns and product enhancements may be to boost interest in the brand's SUV lineup later in 2026.
A Look Ahead
These findings don't mean that manufacturers are sitting back. In an effort to appeal to customers from a variety of market niches, Skoda and Volkswagen intend to update their flagship models with facelifts and new variations.
Maintaining and increasing sales throughout the year will require a persistent emphasis on competitive features, pricing, and modern technology.
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