Saturday, November 1st, 2008
Skoda India is planning to launch four new models by mid 2009. It will introduce new variants of its existing models in India. This means that Indian customers will witness the launch of a new Skoda Laura , Skoda Superb, Skoda Roomster and the new Skoda Fabia Combi . “Hundred per cent in the plan is the launch of the Superb successor in the first quarter and Laura successor in the middle of 2009.
We will showcase the new Superb in November,” Mr Thomas Kuehl, Board Member (Sales & Marketing), Skoda Auto said. We hope people will prefer the five-seater Fabia Combi with a huge space to drive outside the city, to go to the countryside,” he added.
Skoda Fabia Combi was recently exhibited at the Lakme India Fashion Week in Delhi. It was widely appreciated by the media as well as the customers at the Fashion festival. The car is not due for an immediate launch but is a part of Skoda’s brand building exercise in India.
However, Skoda is a little apprehensive about the mass response from the Indian customers about Skoda Fabia Combi as it is a station wagon. Station wagons are not largely accepted by Indian customers. “It is difficult to predict the market for Fabia Combi because it is not a preferred body style in the market. We start with the niche,” said Kuehl.
[via: cartradeindia]
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Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Skoda India has recorded a 34.8% growth in sales in September 2008. The company sold 1,213 units in September 2008, against 900 units it sold in the same period last year.
The Fabia hatchback, 486 units of which were sold in September, is said to have contributed significantly to this spurt in Skoda’s sales in India. The company aims to sell 20,000 cars by in this calendar year, up from the 13,000 units it sold last year.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
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Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Skoda is planning to launch nearly four to eight models in India in coming few years. It plans to make India a bigger market and have experienced that Indian car buyers love cars from the Czech automaker. Skoda Octavia had been quite successful in India although Skoda Laura did not pump up as much sales. Nevertheless, Skoda marked an impressive move by introducing the same car in two different market segments. Skoda Laura has been well acclaimed by car critics around the world and has received the European award for the most beautiful car in the world.
However, Skoda Fabia has been well taken by the Indian customers and they have enjoyed the great value for money. This has boosted company’s morale that plans to make bigger investments in India and occupy a larger market share. It will also expand its product portfolio and offer more choices for its customers. It not only plans to launch SUVs and MUVs but also another small car priced a little below Fabia.
Skoda Superb has also been one of the successful models in India and company further plans to launch more SUVs and MUVs in the country.
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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Skoda India has reported a 22.6 percent growth in car sales in August 2008. The company sold 1,103 units last month, as compared to 900 units in August 2007.
The Fabia hatchback has done especially well for Skoda, with 564 units being sold last month. The company is preparing for a raft of new launches in India, starting November this year.
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Thursday, August 28th, 2008
Czech automaker Skoda has recalled the petrol version of its Fabia hatchback for rectifying a technical glitch that was affecting fuel efficiency and performance of the car.
According to sources, the company has called back the 1200cc and 1400c variants of the Fabia petrol for a “technical upgradation”. When contacted, the company confirmed that it had recalled the car, but blamed “inconsistent fuel quality” behind the step. Due to inconsistent fuel quality in India, Skoda India has done minor change in the software to attain better fuel economy and driving performance, the company said.
Skoda is assembling the Fabia at its Aurangabad factory. Many of the critical components on the car are imported and may not be suitable for local conditions or available fuel quality. According to sources, several customers had experienced problems with the car and some even complained that the brake pedal became hard, while driving at a high speed.
Skoda officials said they would rectify the problem free of cost. “We are not charging anything for this and customers would just need to spend about 20-30 minutes at the dealerships,” a company spokesperson said. All manufacturers do constant upgradations of their products so that the customer always enjoys the best quality and service, the company further said.
[Via: carmotor]
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
Skoda customers seem to be the happiest ones in the Indian auto market. Skoda has topped the customer satisfaction survey second year in the row as per the survey conducted by JD Power Asia Pacific 2008 India for Sales Satisfaction Index Study.
The study surveyed nearly 5416 car owners from 20 different Indian cities who have owned cars for nearly two to six months. The study compared nearly 40 passenger cars currently available in the Indian auto market. It undertook seven key factors such as delivery process, delivery timing, sales staff, sales handling, dealer facility, legal formalities or paperwork and finalising the deal.
Skoda scored 799 on a 1000 point scale while Ford trailed by 792 points followed by Honda and Toyota that scored 782 points each and fell on the third spot. “Skoda customers are particularly satisfied with the salespersons and the sales initiation process. A salesperson plays a key role in providing a hassle-free vehicle purchase experience for customers and represents the face of the manufacturers,” says Mohit Arora, Senior Director, JD Power and Associates
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Skoda India plans to introduce eight new models within next five years to further strengthen its brands’ position in India. Skoda had made its entry in the Indian car market with the popular model
Octavia from D segment. And for the first time in India has introduced the Pump-Duse technology in Skoda Fabia, the premium hatchback has also created rave in Indian auto industry giving tough competition to other cars in the same class.
Now with all their existing successful models, the company is planning to roll out one new model every year. Currently, Skoda is working on to develop another small car which will be cheaper than the Skoda Fabia. The new Skoda Superb will make its debut in 2009, Skoda Yeti from the SUV segment and Roomster will also hit the Indian roads in a couple of years. All Skoda’s new variants and models will carry various price brackets, offering more options to its customers. The company also plans to increase its dealership across the country from 56 to 75 by 2009.
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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
The 1.4 Tdi motor in Fabia has adequate performance but isnt even remotely quick. For a car which cost more than some of the more accomplished 3-box cars in the market, the engine is a major let-down. Also the fact that the 1.4 Motors is a 3-cylinder unit, makes it inherently noisy and unrefined.
To compensate matters, Skoda is considering launching the Fabia with a new 4 Cylinder diesel. Our guess is the 1.9 engine from the Skoda which has been here for long and is reasonably refined, very fuel efficient and reliable.
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