May 01, 2025

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LEAPING INTO the Indian EV space

As India's burgeoning electric vehicle space gets ready for meteoric growth, more global brands are looking to stake their claim. Dipayan Dutta lays down a roadmap of what consumers can expect The Stellantis group is looking to expand its footprint in the sub- continent through a multi-pronged it's the most recent brand to join under Stellantis, Leapmotor. This Chinese start-up was acquired by the group in 2023 through an the European market with 200 touch points in consideration for their initial phase, while considering the brand's viability in other approach that includes increasing investment of USD 1.5 billion or roughly Rs markets across the world the products on offer from brands like Jeep, 12,532 crore, to acquire approximately 21 Now it appears that Leapmotor is all set Maserati and Citroen that already sell ve- per cent equity in Leapmotor, which was at to make headway into the Indian electric hicles in India, in this next phase, will bring the time ranked amongst the top three EV vehicle space. Leapmotor will be brought another brand from their global portfolio to start-ups out of China. Last year, we report- to India as Leapmotor International ­ a cover a wider audience. This time around, ed that Leapmotor would make its foray into Stellantis-led 51:49 joint venture with ex-

CORPORATE LEARANCE

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Enter the all-new Skoda Kodiaq, a unique mix of comfort, luxury, safety and 4x4 performance The daily commute is an essential part of our lives. The journey from home to the workplace is often a time for solitude and contemplation. Naturally, our vehicle assumes the role of our second home, and hence, it is essential that said vehicle ticks all the right boxes. Especially when the route to the office can be filled with hurdles like traffic, an important board meeting, and a ticking clock. Thankfully, we had the Skoda Kodiaq at hand to bring the situation under control. It's comfortable, luxurious and most importantly for any family man, safe and sound for everyone at home. Even before one sets off, it's easy to get mesmerised by the `Simply Clever' touches like the unique parking ticket holder on the front windshield, or the tablet and phone holder for the rear passengers, along with the additional phone holder above it. There are also handy door-panel wastebins, luggage hooks in the boot for any extra baggage, along with a neat flexible element to stow away anything that might move around during the commute. Since time was of the essence, it was time to unleash all 201bhp and 320Nm of peak torque from the Kodiaq's 2.0-litre TSI motor, a powerhouse of an engine. Therefore, being slightly behind schedule wasn't a worry. Another facet greatly assisting the press towards the office was the smooth and seamless shifts, courtesy of the seven-speed DSG. Speaking of effortless progression, the massage seat functions ensure that the drive is spent in relaxation. This, combined with the acoustic insulation, ensures outside noise is kept to a minimum. The AGR-certified