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Skoda Brand Might Be Launched In The USA

Skoda, the Czech automaker acquired by Volkswagen 25 years ago, might come to the United States of America. Along with the U.S. market, Skoda might also enter Canada, since they are already going through the effort.
Skoda front grille 1 photo
Photo: Skoda
At this time, Skoda’s potential launch on the U.S. market is still unconfirmed, but reports claim that the Czech automaker has filed several trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Skoda wants to protect names like “Superb,” “Octavia,” “Yeti,” “Skoda Superb,” and “Skoda.”

This would be the first sign of an intention to launch Skoda pn the North American market, as trademarking a name is essential for about any company with serious intentions.

However, as many patent filings have shown over the years, the launch of the Skoda brand across the Atlantic might not happen so soon, if ever.

Skoda might just be protecting its names just in case some American company might want to borrow them. As Auto Guide reports, there is still a high chance that Skoda might consider entering the American market.

The Volkswagen brand lost significant image capital once the Dieselgate scandal erupted, but the launch of Skoda in the USA would allow the German corporation sell cars there until it manages to recover from its situation.

The launch of the Skoda brand in the USA will give the Volkswagen Group a chance of a clean start in North America without all the hurdles that would usually come for a new automaker. Volkswagen’s platforms are shared with Skoda, but some of the carmaker's U.S. models are not identical to their European siblings borrowed for the Czech range.

If Volkswagen decides to start selling Skoda models in the USA, the new automaker will have to pass EPA and crashworthiness testing, elements which it already must accomplish in the European market. Another hurdle would be the expensive homologation process, and then they will be ready to start selling them in North America.

On the European market, Skoda made a name for itself as a value brand, with roomy interiors and modest design. It was Europe’s low-cost before the Romanian Dacia brand was bought by Renault and became prominent on the Old Continent. The latter is still not considering U.S. sales, so Skoda could get a head start in the world’s second-largest car market.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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