Skoda has announced the prices of the 2026 Slavia facelift, and while speaking to Autocar Professional about the sedan segment, Skoda Auto India brand director Ashish Gupta said, “SUVs are the flavour of the season...but as time progresses and as the Indian market matures, the fatigue will lead to people looking at sedans once again because this is the quintessential car.”
Gupta attributed the current overall market growth to a lot of first-time buyers, who may eventually look at having an additional car in the family. “When you have an additional car in the family, you would typically go for either alternate powertrains or for different body styles,” he added.
Skoda wants to retain its sedan presence
“I’m looking forward to that as customer trends change, and we will start loving sedans once again, other than Skoda sedans as well. I think this category has the potential to grow as well in the future,” remarked Gupta. Skoda therefore wants to retain its presence in the sedan segment as buyer preferences evolve.
Slavia sales averaged around 1,500 to 1,600 units a month last year but have fallen to around 1,000 to 1,100 units this year. Gupta attributed the decline to the company running out the pre-facelift cars. With the facelift now on sale and the festive season underway, he expects sales to return to previous levels.
“The midsize sedan segment in India right now is at around 4,000 to 4,500 units per month, with the Slavia making up nearly 30 percent of all sales in the segment,” Gupta had said earlier. Slavia competes with the Volkswagen Virtus, Hyundai Verna and Honda City. Skoda and its sister brand Volkswagen together account for almost 70 percent of the segment, he had stated.
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Limiting factors
"Most of the new product launches and introductions are happening in the SUV segment and other body styles," Gupta had said earlier. He also said that growth in the sedan segment is being held back by automakers focusing more on SUVs. "We, as manufacturers, should take the responsibility for this, as we have not focused on the sedan segment."
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Skoda India's sedan portfolio
The Slavia is the entry point to Skoda's sedan line-up in India, above which sits the fully-imported Octavia RS. The new Superb, due to launch in 2027, will arrive as a full import as well. Skoda, therefore, will have a diversified portfolio to cater to difference audiences – the Slavia in the mass segment, the Octavia RS for the enthusiast and the Superb for the premium buyer.
Asked whether Skoda would continue to invest in the sedan segment beyond 2030, and whether it remains an integral part of its future strategy, Gupta said, "It will always be, and if you look at our global portfolio as well, the Octavia and Superb continue to be bestsellers. For our entire portfolio strategy and going forward as well, sedans do form an integral part and so is the case in India."
Discussions on the next generation have begun. With limited resources and competing investment demands, Skoda will now be assessing which markets can deliver sufficient customers, volumes and profitability.
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Viraaj Bhatnagar
