Skoda plans to double sales

[CJJE]

Autocar reported today that:

Skoda is planning to more than double its sales to "at least" 1.5 million units by 2020, according to company boss Winfried Vahland.

Speaking at an industry conference in Berlin, Vahland described the Czech car maker as being "ready for a growth spurt".

The expansion plan will aim to dramatic increase sales in the company’s home market, as well as in China, India and Russia. Skoda sold over 684,000 cars last year, so exports will make up in half of sales in 2020, according to industry estimates.

Controversy flared up early this month, when senior sources at Skoda’s parent company VW, suggested that in future the brand would be repositioned to prevent it competing with VW itself.

Some analysts claim that Skoda’s previous boss, Reinhard Young, lost his position because Skoda models such as the Superb and Yeti were both better conceived and cheaper than their VW stablemates.

Vahland, however, strongly denies that Skoda is cannibalising VW sales, but is competing with Kia and Hyundai. However he says that future Skoda models will be value for money family vehicles that are functional and practical.

Skoda has benefited from considerable autonomy in recent years, allowing company engineers to mix and match VW technology and platforms to a much greater extent than other group brands.

Chris

[jasper13]

Maybe Skoda should concentrate on being able to deliver the orders they have right now, 6 month plus waiting times are a joke, the quote "learn to walk before you try to run" springs to mind!!

[The Plumber]

News article from the Czech Skoda homeland sales web site

My link

Also mentions the new corporate image which is to be launched at Geneva week after next. I read it as a very upbeat message from a progressive company :wonder: One can live in hope that VW don't put the brakes on.

TP