From 2023, the new generation of the Škoda Superb will be produced together with its sister VW Passat at the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava. The damage will free up production capacity for more than 100,000 cars thanks to the relocation in Kvasiny. Neither Kodiaq nor Karoq will move to foreign factories, and together with them, another, as yet unspecified model, is to be produced here.
Škoda has officially confirmed that the new generation of the Superb model, which is to be launched in 2023, will be produced at the Volkswagen factory near Bratislava together with its sister Volkswagen Passat. Both models will be developed by Škoda Auto in its “Česana” technology center in Boleslav. Kodiaq production will remain in the Czech Republic, as will the smaller Karoq.
“Thanks to the relocation of Superb, we will gain additional capacity in the Czech Republic that is urgently needed for our growth plan. This will create the conditions for further expansion of our brand while maintaining high profitability. another model of the Škoda brand, “said its headmaster Thomas Schäfer in a press release.
We brought the information already on Wednesday here. The head of the VW Group, Herbert Diess, informed that he would invest in the modernization of the Slovak factory and that the amount should reach up to one billion euros (26.6 billion CZK).
Skoda is nowhere to produce
Škoda has long informed that it would be able to sell more cars than it can produce. Paradoxically, the coronavirus pandemic crisis has not been very significant in this situation either. There is still great interest in Škoda.
While Czech factories are at full capacity, others owned by the group in Europe have a looser capacity. That is why the possibilities of moving the production of models of various brands of the concern beyond the borders have been addressed for a long time. Randomly, the Škoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat to Slovakia, the Škoda Kodiaq to the factory in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, where the Seat Tarraco and VW Tiguan are being built, or the relocation of Seatu Ateca production to Spain.
It is advantageous for the Group to combine the production of technically related models into one factory in terms of production and logistics. At the same time, however, it is more advantageous for the carmaker to produce its own cars in its factories, and the profits are higher. That is why it would not be so advantageous for Škoda to produce Passat in Kvasiny.
Thanks to the relocation of Superb, the capacity for the production of more than 100,000 cars will be freed up in Kvasiny, which will greatly help Škoda. The new Kodiaqs and Karoqs are now awaited for at least four months to half a year. The margin on Kodiaq is very similar to the one the carmaker will get on the Superb. At the same time, there is an ever-lower interest in classic middle-class cars (sedans, liftbacks, station wagons) from year to year, while SUVs are enjoying great popularity and it seems that they will not just lose them in the years to come.
The relocation of the Superb may thus seem to be the most sensible solution to ensure profitability and free up production capacity for popular Škoda models. In addition, an unspecified model of the brand is to be created in Kvasiny, which would be moved here from Mladá Boleslav.
Responsibility for developing markets
The carmaker also confirmed in a press release that Škoda Auto is taking responsibility for activities in important growth markets for the entire group. After India, it will now also take responsibility for Russia and the North African region. In this regard, the manufacturer relies on experience with the INDIA 2.0 project, with which it launched this year in an emerging market with great potential.
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