Erm, no . . . they're actually doing rather better and gaining market share!

Sales figures from SMMT:

Jan 09 to Jan 10.

Audi +28.74%

BMW +25.22%

Alfa +4.76%

Ford +5.62%

Jaguar -11.25%

MB +29.9%

Seat +37.41%

VW +70.04%

Skoda . . . . .

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wait for it

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+ 83.66%

So why would Skoda "fix" something that's not broken???

Hmmm...Yet this website shows the percentage of market share of different brands...VW being 10.3% and Skoda being 2%...

My link

.

Edited 23 February, 201016 yr by retro gal

Erm, no . . . they're actually doing rather better and gaining market share!

Sales figures from SMMT:

Jan 09 to Jan 10.

Audi +28.74%

BMW +25.22%

Alfa +4.76%

Ford +5.62%

Jaguar -11.25%

MB +29.9%

Seat +37.41%

VW +70.04%

Skoda . . . . .

.

.

.

.

.

.

wait for it

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

+ 83.66%

So why would Skoda "fix" something that's not broken???

Sept 2009 biggest selling car brands...(taken from Telegraph.co.uk). Skoda SHOULD be competing with the big boys...

Biggest brands, Sept 2009

1. Ford, 54,553

2. Vauxhall, 41,255

3. Volkswagen, 28,181

4. Toyota, 21,179

5. BMW, 19,526

6. Peugeot, 18,440

7. Nissan, 16,142

8. Audi, 15,117

9. Honda, 14,750

10. Citroen 13,688

All great brands...

Hmmm...Yet this website shows the percentage of market share of different brands...VW being 10.3% and Skoda being 2%...

My link

But why would VW (the parent company) let a cheaper brand (Skoda) compete with them on market share? VW don't want Skoda to be a VW clone, they want it to have unique identity that complements the other brands in the group with minimal direct competition on models. If Skoda had 10.3% and VW had 2% of market share, VW would be heading towards bankruptcy!

VW have been happy for Skoda to develop into niches that VW don't specifically target in certain markets in the hope that it'll take sales away from non VAG competitors, e.g. the Yeti vs the Qashqai.

But why would VW (the parent company) let a cheaper brand (Skoda) compete with them on market share? VW don't want Skoda to be a VW clone, they want it to have unique identity that complements the other brands in the group with minimal direct competition on models. If Skoda had 10.3% and VW had 2% of market share, VW would be heading towards bankruptcy!

VW have been happy for Skoda to develop into niches that VW don't specifically target in certain markets in the hope that it'll take sales away from non VAG competitors, e.g. the Yeti vs the Qashqai.

I guess I just need to accept that Skoda is just an 'older' person's brand and aimed at that older sector of the population hence the dated logo (sorry!). It's just the Yeti is definitely aimed at young/modern families who will not on the whole be happy with the Skoda brand/logo. Oh well. I don't want to argue all day and as the majority of the people on this site are old school Skoda enthusiasts, I'll admit defeat and leave it here...Thanks for the debate though, was interesting...

Edited 23 February, 201016 yr by retro gal

Excellent discussion on this thread; further confirmation, if any were needed, that Briskoda is the thinking person's car enthusiast website!

re the topic, i belive there was serious consideration given at VW to the merits of renaming Skoda when they acquired it.

renaming can be as problematic as re-establishing an existing brand as firstly it has no history, and secondly it suggests the "new" brand has something to hide ie "X used to be Skoda".

Actually it would seem VW/Skoda's brand strategy has worked well, with significant increase in credibility and market share for Skoda. The first to be converted are those less influenced by branding and are attracted to the make by its objective merits. Through this Skoda then acquire a "brand" as no-nonsense, rugged and unostentatious. It has come I think to occupy the territory once occupied by VW: ie an unpretensious, classless people's car, which is of course quite an attractive , contemporary image, exemplified in the Yeti!

I guess I just need to accept that Skoda is just an 'older' person's brand and aimed at that older sector of the population hence the dated logo (sorry!). It's just the Yeti is definitely aimed at young/modern families who will not on the whole be happy with the Skoda brand/logo. Oh well. I don't want to argue all day and as the majority of the people on this site are old school Skoda enthusiasts, I'll admit defeat and leave it here...Thanks for the debate though, was interesting...

But you put up a cracking fight and I agreed with pretty much all of it.

But you put up a cracking fight and I agreed with pretty much all of it.

Thanks :yes:

I guess I just need to accept that Skoda is just an 'older' person's brand and aimed at that older sector of the population hence the dated logo (sorry!). It's just the Yeti is definitely aimed at young/modern families who will not on the whole be happy with the Skoda brand/logo. Oh well. I don't want to argue all day and as the majority of the people on this site are old school Skoda enthusiasts, I'll admit defeat and leave it here...Thanks for the debate though, was interesting...

You're probably right there. I was under the impression that Seat are VW's "youth" brand, so in some ways it's odd that the Yeti isn't their model.

To me Yeti itself (him/herself) is more important than the brand. How about doing a BMW and having a YETI as BMW have MINI.:yes:

I guess I just need to accept that Skoda is just an 'older' person's brand and aimed at that older sector of the population hence the dated logo (sorry!). It's just the Yeti is definitely aimed at young/modern families who will not on the whole be happy with the Skoda brand/logo. Oh well. I don't want to argue all day and as the majority of the people on this site are old school Skoda enthusiasts, I'll admit defeat and leave it here...Thanks for the debate though, was interesting...

Congratulations on a great discussion, just to chip in my thoughts.

Really like the revised logo, let me know if an order is being put in.

My Yeti has been looked at (with interest in buying one) by several neighbours and friends, ages from early 20s to 60s, so maybe this is the model that gets Skoda out of the 'Oldies only' catagory.

I've got to say I think VAG groups branding is pretty solid (with a few anomolies), they do however seems to be struggling with SEAT. Skoda has been pitched in many of the motor mags as 'taking over Volvos old territory', really good, dependable cars with the benefit of added value. The Superb, particularly the Combi just launched, is kicking **** out of the major brands 'executive' models (Top Gears luxury car of the year!!), the Yeti is a really cleverly engineered solution to a newish market sector (minimal cost of development, being based on the Octavia Scout, excellent design and packaging) and again great value. My concern would be that if the 'Brand' of Skoda was now to be promoted, within a few years the temptation would be too great and the models would become 'value priced', ie the additional positive perception of the brand would translate into prices being raised, as people would pay more because Skoda was 'cool'.

Me, I vote for getting a great car for a great price and more fool the folk that spend more on a lesser vehicle (did I hear MINI mentioned!!).

Congratulations on a great discussion, just to chip in my thoughts.

Really like the revised logo, let me know if an order is being put in.

My Yeti has been looked at (with interest in buying one) by several neighbours and friends, ages from early 20s to 60s, so maybe this is the model that gets Skoda out of the 'Oldies only' catagory.

I've got to say I think VAG groups branding is pretty solid (with a few anomolies), they do however seems to be struggling with SEAT. Skoda has been pitched in many of the motor mags as 'taking over Volvos old territory', really good, dependable cars with the benefit of added value. The Superb, particularly the Combi just launched, is kicking **** out of the major brands 'executive' models (Top Gears luxury car of the year!!), the Yeti is a really cleverly engineered solution to a newish market sector (minimal cost of development, being based on the Octavia Scout, excellent design and packaging) and again great value. My concern would be that if the 'Brand' of Skoda was now to be promoted, within a few years the temptation would be too great and the models would become 'value priced', ie the additional positive perception of the brand would translate into prices being raised, as people would pay more because Skoda was 'cool'.

Me, I vote for getting a great car for a great price and more fool the folk that spend more on a lesser vehicle (did I hear MINI mentioned!!).

I am an agreement with some of what you have said. If one was an employee or dependent on Skoda in some way then I could fully understand the importance of promoting sales and popularity. For my own sake, and for the rest of us, I do not understand this. Al I want is an excellent car at a reasonable price. I doo not really want every one else to have the same. While it could allow Skoda to put up its prices it might also follow that re sale prices would diminish just like they do for Fords and there are plenty more of them about. Surely it is better for an owner is to buy low and sell high and not the other way around.

Edited 24 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1