Skoda

Chris Horrell, Product Manager for SkodaAuto UK said at the press launch for the all-new Octavia range "The UK rejection rate of the brand has reduced from 75 per cent of all new car buyers down to below 50 per cent since the year 2000 when we launched the Fabia range". The all-new five-door Octavia range goes on sale in the UK from 19 July.

"Although this rejection rate still sound high we look on this as our cup being half full, not half empty because we still have 50 per cent of the UK new car buying public to sell to. Buyers that still seem to have a problem with the brand are 35 years of age and under and we think that is peer pressure. The people who lived through the tricky times of Skoda in the UK now accept our cars as being well made, reliable, well specified and very competitive for price" said Horrell

He added, "Our research shows that when younger married customers consider buying our cars it is very often the female partner who finally rejects the product. However customer loyalty is 88 per cent and coming second to Lexus in the latest JD Power survey for customer service shows how well we are doing. The new Octavia range is the start of the next phase of our brand development programme to influence people