Even Škoda already produces more SUVs than anything else, the challenge of the head of production in connection with this makes you smile bitterly
yesterday | Petr Prokopec
Photo: Škoda Auto
We really don’t see the popularity of SUVs anymore, but we can’t help but be surprised by the steps taken by the Czech car company. On what planet does the brand’s head of production and logistics live when, in the face of clear sales figures, he sees the future in cars like the Škoda Enyaq?
Currently, there are only a handful of car brands that can do without an SUV in their lineup. Brands such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce eventually headed into these waters, and we have to head towards exotics such as McLaren, Pagani or Koenigsegg to discover exceptions. It is therefore not a shock that even in the case of Škoda, they already make up over half of the portfolio – we mainly have the well-known trio of Kamiq, Karoq and Kodiaq here in Europe, which are very important for sales today. The electric Enyaq, together with its Coupe version, tends to languish in markets flooded with subsidies, only the Scala sells worse. In addition, there is the relatively successful Indian Kushaq, and the Kamiq GT and Kodiaq GT derivatives are also offered on the Chinese market. In contrast, only the Fabia, Octavia, Superb and the mentioned Scala stand.
The Mladoboleslav carmaker has recently announced that it has already produced its three millionth SUV, with 841,900 Kodiaqs (including the GT version) and 705,800 Karoqs. In third place we find the no-longer-offered Yeti (684,500 units), while the Kamiq (again including the GT version) is fourth with 537,100 “notches” on the stock. At first glance, the Kushaq (63,900 units) does not look like a very successful model, but let’s not forget the fact that it will only be available from 2021, and that too in a single market. At the same time, ordinary Indians are not known as a nation drowning in money.
However, what caught our attention the most in the press release was the statement by Andreas Dick, who is in charge of production and logistics at Škoda. He mentioned that “our mission is clear: we are fully committed to electrifying our SUV range and adapting our production facilities accordingly. Challenge accepted!” But something like that can’t even be called determination, it’s a blatant disregard for reality. As we mentioned, the Enyaq is no slouch, this year in Europe it has only 31,000 sales until July, and even the Octavia surpasses it by three times. The aforementioned Indian Kushaq is also very close to its current sales.
In addition, the electric SUV basically only benefits from subsidies, it found only 1,027 buyers in our country this year, which is less than a quarter of the mentioned Scala. Still, does the brand see a future in electric SUVs? What on earth is this strategy? Or perhaps Dick feels that the challenge is trying to sink to the bottom as quickly as possible? If so, then we are not even surprised that he is burning with enthusiasm for her. Such a mission can be fulfilled, although we are not sure that anyone besides the brand’s production chief will be happy about it.
It can only be added that the Kodiaq in black and with Sportline equipment became the jubilee three-millionth SUV. Even this fact makes you smile. At a time when Škoda is pushing electromobility like crazy, being the brand’s PR department we would really make sure that any Enyaq becomes that milestone, even if it is the only such car produced on the necessary day. It didn’t happen, instead we have a car that will only be available in the upcoming second generation with at least some form of electrified system, namely with hybrid units.
Mladoboleslav boasted three million SUVs already produced. Their journey started in 2009 with the Yeti model, and the latest innovation is the electric Enyaq. The brand also mentions the Trekka model in its press materials, which was produced in New Zealand between 1966 and 1972. However, the car manufacturer, as AZNP, only supplied this SUV with technical sets consisting of engines and gearboxes. Photo: Škoda Auto
Source: Škoda Auto, JATO Dynamics, SDA
Petr Prokopec
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2023-09-23 12:42:51
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