India, as a market, holds a lot of potential, and that is the reason why we see automobile brands come up with new and interesting products. However, India is an extremely tricky market to survive in, and brands need an India-specific strategy to thrive. That is one of the reasons why some brands are performing better than others.
As per the latest data, Citroën, Škoda, and Mahindra are among India’s fastest-growing car brands. How did that happen? Let’s find out.
Now that the new financial year has begun, we have official numbers from the previous year, which give us clarity on how these brands managed to grow so quickly. Škoda recorded the highest growth rate at 68.4 percent, while Citroën registered 47 percent growth, and Mahindra saw a 19.7 percent increase in FY26. For reference, India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, recorded a growth of just 3.5 percent.
Škoda sold a total of 44,862 units in FY25, and in FY26, the brand sold 75,555 units. A major contributor to this 68 percent growth is a single model – the entry-level offering from Škoda, the Kylaq.
The Kylaq has been a huge success since its launch. It made the brand more accessible and offered a good balance of handling, performance, and comfort at an attractive price point. This is what helped Škoda significantly boost its sales.
In FY25, Škoda sold 10,205 units of the Kylaq, whereas in FY26, it sold 49,089 units – marking a massive 381 percent jump in just one year.
The next brand on the list is Citroën. We know that Citroën entered India with high expectations, but due to its initial strategy – or rather the lack of it – the brand struggled early on. However, it now appears that Citroën has learned from its mistakes and better understands the Indian market.
Although the brand still has a limited product lineup, it has shown steady improvement. Citroën sold 6,516 units in FY25 and recorded a 47 percent growth in FY26, reaching 9,576 units.
If we look at model-wise performance, most models have shown improvement, except for the eC3 and Basalt. The highest-selling model for Citroën is the C3 hatchback. In FY26, the brand sold 6,293 units of the C3, which is a 137 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Interestingly, Citroën also sold 63 units of its flagship SUV, the C5 Aircross, in FY26, compared to just 9 units in FY25.
Initially, Citroën aimed to position itself as a premium brand, but its products did not fully reflect that image. Combined with a limited dealership network, this pushed customers toward other options. Realising this, Citroën introduced its new strategy, “Citroën 2.0 – Shift Into The New.”
This strategy focuses on delivering long-term value and aspirational mobility solutions. It also emphasises an improved product portfolio, deeper market penetration, and a customer-first approach to enhance ownership experiences across India. The recent rise in sales numbers is likely a result of this shift in strategy.
Mahindra, an Indian brand, is well known for its strong presence in the SUV segment. It has consistently remained popular among buyers in this category.
In FY25, Mahindra sold 5,51,487 units, and in FY26, the number increased to 6,60,276 units – resulting in a growth of 19.7 percent.
Looking at model-wise performance, the best-selling model is the Scorpio. Mahindra sold 1.78 lakh units of the Scorpio in FY26 alone, which is an 8 percent increase over the previous year.
The Mahindra Scorpio is a model that played a crucial role in shaping the brand’s identity in India. It would not be wrong to say that the Scorpio transformed Mahindra’s image from a rural utility vehicle manufacturer into a modern, mainstream SUV brand.
Even today, Mahindra offers two versions of the Scorpio. The original version, known as the Scorpio Classic, caters to customers who prefer a rugged, no-nonsense, practical, and boxy SUV. The other is the Scorpio N, which is a more advanced offering with modern features, improved safety, and a premium feel – while still retaining the bold SUV character that buyers expect.
