Coming up in 2025
Facing nearly flat sales in the current fiscal year, car manufacturers are pinning hopes on the new launches in 2025 to rev up sale figures. According to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the passenger vehicle segment recorded sales of 24,26,250 units from April to October, compared to 24,12,337 units during the corresponding period in the previous year, a growth of 0.6 per cent. Major launches are expected in the year ahead from Maruti Suzuki, Kia, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Mercedes-Benz. Experts believe that 2025 could also mark a significant year for electric vehicles as many carmakers have planned their EV line-up.
E Vitara
Maruti Suzuki is all set to finally enter the electric passenger vehicle market. Suzuki introduced its first-ever all-electric production-ready model, e Vitara, in Milan in November this year. This is the brand’s first electric model globally and it is set to make its India debut in mid-2025. It is anticipated that Maruti Suzuki will showcase its first production-spec electric SUV at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025. This new all-electric SUV is named e Vitara, formerly Evx. Interestingly, despite being the largest carmaker in the country, Maruti Suzuki is among the last ones to enter the EV market space in India.
Kia Syros
Likely to be unveiled next week, Kia will formally launch Syros and announce its price range in January. This will be the first Kia 2.0 SUV offering after Carnival and EV9. To be slotted between Sonet and Seltos in the company’s line-up, Syros will potentially create a new segment of SUVs and crossovers in the Indian market.
According to company officials, the model will represent a new chapter in Kia’s journey. This new Kia SUV, which will sit above the Sonet, will be in direct competition with Citroen Basalt, Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate and MG Astor. Ahead of its launch, the South Korean carmaker has shared multiple teasers of Syros on social media.
Mercedes-Benz’s G-wagon
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to launch its premium electric vehicle, the G-Wagon electric SUV, in India in the second week of January. It is an all-electric version of the G-Class SUV. According to auto experts, the new Mercedes-Benz G 580, with EQ technology, retains the familiar G-Wagon’s boxy design.
It comes with a quad-motor all-wheel-drive system and offers a range of up to 473 km on a single charge. It was first showcased in India in a prototype form a day before the Bharat Mobility Show 2024, at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Delhi.
Mahindra’s BE 6 and XEV 9e
Mahindra unveiled its electric sports utility vehicles, the BE 6 and XEV 9e, last month. The two models are expected to be formally launched in January next year. According to company officials, BE 6 and XEV 9e are the next Indian icons that will be world-beaters.
The vehicles can touch 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds for BE 6 and 6.8 seconds for XEV 9e. The utility vehicle maker is offering lifetime battery warranty for both 79 kWh and 59 kWh battery packs. This would be valid for the first registered owners only and applicable on private registration.
In case of ownership change, the warranty on high voltage battery will be 10 years or 2 lakh km, whichever is earlier, from the first date of delivery of the vehicle. “These two products built on our grounds up the revolutionary electric origin architecture INGLO, and powered by MAIA, the fastest automotive mind in the world, embody Mahindra’s vision of Unlimit India, setting new global benchmarks,” says R Velusamy, president, automotive product development, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, and joint MD, Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited.
The vehicles have a certified range of 682 km for BE 6 and 656 km for XEV 9e. The starting price for BE 6 is Rs 18.9 lakh, while XEV 9e starts at Rs 21.9 lakh. Bookings for both models will commence in January, with deliveries scheduled to start between February and March, which allows Mahindra ample time to ramp up production.
Skoda Kylaq
Skoda Auto is betting big on the Indian market with the launch of the designed-in-India Kylaq, its first sub-4m SUV, at a starting price of Rs 7.89 lakh.
Unveiled in November this year, the bookings for Kylaq started from December 2 and the deliveries will commence from January 27. With this newest release, Skoda plans to sell one lakh cars annually in India by 2026.
Kylaq, which the company claims has unmatched driving dynamics and uncompromising safety, is available with a choice of two transmissions, four variants and seven colours. It is powered by the 1.0 TSI engine, producing 85kW of power and 178Nm of torque, with the option of a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic.
