Photo: Skoda
In the midst of the ongoing Dieselgate saga, the VW Group and all its brands are between a rock and a hard place. Albeit the peeps at Skoda sell more cars than ever before nowadays, the plans to bring the Czech manufacturer in the U.S. have been dropped.
At least that’s what a senior Volkswagen board member told Automobile Magazine in a recent interview. “Entering this huge market [U.S.] with an unknown brand, a model range focused on Europe, and a non-existent dealer network is pure suicide,” the official said. “Furthermore, the last thing Volkswagen of America needs now is in-house cannibalization.”
I’m not too sure about the cannibalization. I mean, Volkswagen sales in the United States took a turn for the worse since the German manufacturer was caught redhanded in 2015. Sure the Skoda brand is part of the Volkswagen Group, but bringing models such as the Superb and Kodiaq to the U.S. might have been better than desperately trying to wash VW’s TDI-related sins.
Whether Skoda will cross the Atlantic or not, I couldn’t care less if I’m honest. The truth of the matter is, Skoda is more concerned about its future product strategy. In this regard, the cited publication notes that there’s a coupe-ified Kodiaq in the offing, plus the Yeti-replacing Polar. In 2019, a fourth SUV underpinned by the MEB electric vehicle platform could see the light of day.
Skoda’s agenda is tight, no doubt about it. In the meantime, demand for Skoda vehicles is surging in Europe. In 2015 alone, the compact-sized Octavia sold 218,095 examples in the Old Continent, up from 206,362 in 2014. The subcompact Fabia is up there at the top as well, selling 161,394 units.
The crossover and SUV craze is in full bloom at sister brand SEAT as well. After the Ateca, the Spanish manufacturer is set to reveal the all-new Arona, which will be based on the next generation of the Ibiza supermini.
I’m not too sure about the cannibalization. I mean, Volkswagen sales in the United States took a turn for the worse since the German manufacturer was caught redhanded in 2015. Sure the Skoda brand is part of the Volkswagen Group, but bringing models such as the Superb and Kodiaq to the U.S. might have been better than desperately trying to wash VW’s TDI-related sins.
Whether Skoda will cross the Atlantic or not, I couldn’t care less if I’m honest. The truth of the matter is, Skoda is more concerned about its future product strategy. In this regard, the cited publication notes that there’s a coupe-ified Kodiaq in the offing, plus the Yeti-replacing Polar. In 2019, a fourth SUV underpinned by the MEB electric vehicle platform could see the light of day.
Skoda’s agenda is tight, no doubt about it. In the meantime, demand for Skoda vehicles is surging in Europe. In 2015 alone, the compact-sized Octavia sold 218,095 examples in the Old Continent, up from 206,362 in 2014. The subcompact Fabia is up there at the top as well, selling 161,394 units.
The crossover and SUV craze is in full bloom at sister brand SEAT as well. After the Ateca, the Spanish manufacturer is set to reveal the all-new Arona, which will be based on the next generation of the Ibiza supermini.
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