Skoda Auto India’s Sponsorship of L’Étape Mysuru

Skoda Auto India served as the title sponsor for the inaugural L’Étape Mysuru, a Tour de France‑inspired cycling event, thereby extending its 23‑year association with the Tour de France to the Indian market. The event, held in Mysuru, combined the global spirit of Skoda’s cycling heritage—tracing back to the founders’ bicycle manufacturing in 1895—with the local cultural backdrop, including the iconic Chamundi Hills.

Participation and Reach

More than 1,500 cycling enthusiasts from across India and international regions gathered for L’Étape Mysuru, creating a platform for participants to experience the sport’s heritage while engaging with Indian culture and landscapes.

Brand Perspective

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director of Skoda Auto India, stated that cycling has been integral to Skoda’s identity since its founding and that bringing L’Étape to India is a natural extension of that legacy, offering an experiential and inclusive way for people to connect with the sport and the spirit of discovery.

Skoda’s Global and Indian Footprint

Skoda Auto continues to execute its “Next Level Skoda Strategy,” aiming to become one of the top three best‑selling brands in Europe by the end of the decade through a portfolio of BEV, hybrid, and ICE models. The company exploits growth opportunities in markets such as India, Vietnam, and the ASEAN region. Globally, Skoda offers 14 passenger‑car model ranges—including Fabia, Scala, Octavia, Superb, Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Epiq, Elroq, Enyaq, Peaq, Slavia, Kylaq, and Kushaq—and delivered more than 1,040,000 vehicles to customers worldwide in 2025.

Skoda has been part of the Volkswagen Group for over 30 years and operates within the Brand Group CORE, a merger of Volkswagen’s volume brands aimed at joint growth and efficiency. It independently develops components such as MEB battery systems, engines, and transmissions for other Volkswagen Group brands, and runs three production plants in the Czech Republic with additional capacities in Spain, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, India, Vietnam, and Ukraine through partnerships.

The company employs roughly 40,000 people and is active in almost 100 markets.

Skoda Auto India Specifics

Since its market entry in 2001, Skoda Auto India offers five models—Kylaq, Slavia, Kushaq, Kodiaq, and Octavia RS—and maintains a presence in 193 cities across the country through over 345 customer touchpoints. In 2025, the Indian subsidiary recorded a 107% year‑on‑year sales growth, selling 72,665 cars.