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Kodiaq roars again as Skoda shifts gears on luxury SUV game in India
MUMBAI: Bigger, bolder, and back with a bite, Skoda’s new Kodiaq has hit Indian roads and it’s not just purring, it’s roaring. Celebrating 25 years in India and 130 globally, Skoda Auto kicked off the next chapter in its SUV legacy with the launch of the all-new Kodiaq at PPS Motors in Kondapur, Hyderabad. Following the buzz around the sub-4m Kylaq, this seven-seater luxury 4×4 adds muscle to Skoda’s premium line-up, flaunting a sleeker design, tech upgrades, and terrain-hugging capability.
Unveiled in the presence of GHMC Corporator Jagadeshwar G and PPS Skoda COO S Cecil, the new Kodiaq is offered in two variants Sportline and the more luxurious Selection L&K both powered by a 2.0 TSI engine producing 150 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque, paired with a seven-speed DSG. It’s assembled at Skoda’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar facility and offers a claimed mileage of 14.86 km/l.
Dimensionally, it’s a roomier beast than before 59mm longer with an impressive 1,976 litres of max boot space. Interior indulgences include a 32.77 cm infotainment system, rotary Smart Dials, ergonomic gear placement, and even a massage function for the Ergo seats. Add nine airbags, a 13-speaker Canton sound system, and a panoramic sunroof to the mix, and you’ve got luxury firmly in the driver’s seat.
Design-wise, the SUV makes an entrance with LED Beam Crystallinium headlamps and a dramatic Welcome Effect, while exclusive trims like Bronx Gold and Steel Grey add visual polish to its brawny appeal.
Prices start at Rs 46.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Sportline and go up to Rs 48.69 lakh for the top-end L&K. Backed by a 5-year warranty, 10-year roadside assistance, and a complimentary first-year service package, Skoda’s flagship offering is clearly designed to please both city slickers and off-road enthusiasts alike.
With the new Kodiaq, Skoda isn’t just marking an anniversary, it’s rewriting the playbook for premium SUVs in India, one bold drive at a time.
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Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
