Skoda Teases America, Again: CEO Says the Kodiaq Would Be a 'Home Run' in the U.S.


The hints keep piling up that the Škoda brand could one day arrive on our shores.
Volkswagen Group’s Czech subsidiary keeps dropping clues that it wants to enter the U.S. market, but the surging automaker’s CEO recently added his own voice to the rumor mill, according to Autocar. Company head Bernhard Maier said if the automaker does head to America, it already has the vehicle U.S. buyers want.
Speaking to Autocar at the launch of its Alaska-inspired Kodiaq SUV, Maier said the American market isn’t first on Škoda’s expansion list. South Korea, Singapore and Iran come first. Still, his comments reveal a clear interest in going after the U.S. buyer.
“If we do decide to compete in the US, we will have one chance to make a good first impression,” said Maier. “We feel that if we were there now, the Kodiaq would be a home-run car.”
While those three smaller Asian markets make sense for Škoda, the company can’t keep its eye off a much bigger prize.
“America is the one that we don’t currently compete in with the biggest potential,” said Maier.
The automaker is already conducting a feasibility study to see if the brand could make it in the U.S. (TTAC has its own thoughts on that.) Lately, the automaker has laid some groundwork — at the patent office, anyways. Over the last few months, Škoda filed trademark applications for several of its model names, the VRS performance badge, and “Skoda H-Tec.”
Despite the black clouds hovering over Volkswagen Group, Škoda is a bright light. The brand saw a record 569,400 deliveries in the first half of 2016, and is eager to grow its global footprint.
[Image: Bruno Kussler Marques/ Flickr]
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Skoda would be no home run in the US. After all the expense and trouble to set up shop in the US, they might sell 2000-3000 cars/month, which is Fiat/Jaguar territory, but with small margins. What's going to make me buy a Skoda instead of a Kia? Warranty - no, Price - unlikely, Support - no, Performance - no, Utility - no.
Soon, Americans are going to be afforded an opportunity to purchase loathsome vehicles with all the problems of VW platforms and all the problems of sub-par assembly. I can hardly wait.
Skoda was always VW's last generation brand. When the tooling is changed because the car changes, the tooling goes East. Skoda makes it, so VW can get away with making two generations of car at at time. Since the US market is a rich hard currency location, they'd rather sell us Audi and some VW. German car makers have never done well mid or low end in the US. Keep in mind that the cars we get are the top line, or close to it. Germans build a lot of low end cars we don't get, or miss.... I can't see VW launching a new brand...or figuring out the US market...ever... Do we want the last generation VW ? It makes sense in markets that have little money but the US market isn't that one.
So I am currently resisting the urge to buy a new Skoda Octavia down here. On price it adds up at less than the equivalent Golf with more niceties and slightly cheaper servicing. Given my 33,000km a year driving, I am craving to go to a Diesel to get a cost saving! (it'd equate to 33 tanks of fuel a year rather than 50 in my 2013 Mazda 3)