Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo Beats Semiconductor Shortage

• Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo will continue to be offered with a 10-inch touchscreen.
• From June 1 onward, the Kushaq and Slavia will get the smaller 8-inch unit.
• But, the infotainment system will support wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Due to the semiconductor chip shortage, Skoda India will be downgrading the Kushaq and Slavia’s 10-inch touchscreen with a smaller 8-inch unit. Yes, it is a bummer, but, the Czech carmaker will continue to offer the recently launched Kushaq Monte Carlo with the larger touchscreen infotainment system. 

Confirming this, Zac Hollis, Director or Sales and Marketing, Skoda India, said on Twitter, “We have only supply of the Skoda system for the Monte Carlo. As soon as supply improves we will start with the higher trims. Please have a look at the Panasonic system when it arrives at dealers next month. It is used by Skoda globally and will also be in use for Export business.”

Skoda’s larger 10-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system gets features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car tech, and preinstalled apps. The Monte Carlo further gets a red theme to keep it in-line with its overall sporty theme. 

The smaller 8-inch touchscreen unit, which will be installed in the Kushaq and Slavia from June 1 onward, will continue to get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but will not be wireless. Plus, it remains to be seen if it will get connected car tech and preinstalled apps that are found in the larger unit. 

Skoda isn’t the only carmaker affected by the prolonged semiconductor chip shortage. Earlier, Hyundai and Tata released certain variants for their offerings without a touchscreen infotainment system. Also, Skoda had offered the Style and Ambition variants of the Kushaq without the auto-folding ORVM for a brief period and gave customers a Rs 15,000 rebate. This feature has now been rolled back. 

The Skoda Slavia is priced from Rs 10.69 lakh, while the Kushaq starts from Rs 11.29 lakh.