Kushaq leads charge
Skoda’s charge in 2023 was led by the Kushaq SUV for the second year in a row with a total of 27,800 cars sold as compared to 26,723 units sold in the corresponding period last year resulting in a growth of four per cent for the model. The biggest jump has been in the premium-end of things with the Kodiaq which sold 3911 units as compared to 1175 units in the corresponding period of the previous CY. This has come on the back of Skoda launching a BS6-2 compliant Kodiaq as well as getting a higher allocation of the model in terms of global production.
Sedan performance
While the SUVs have done exactly how and what they were supposed to do, Skoda’s range of sedans has not had a particularly great year with 19932 units of the Slavia being produced in CY 2023 as compared to 24664 units in CY 2022. On the premium side, the Octavia and Superb both of which ended their current-generation assembly sold 266 and 212 units as compared to 1417 and 1771 units in the corresponding period of 2022.
2024 game plan
As was the case with 2023, we expect special editions to sustain the Skoda range at the budget end while there will be a focus on the premium section with the next-generation Superb and Kodiaq by the end of the year. The Czech automaker will also start its BEV journey with the Enyaq EV that was showcased at the 2024 Bharat Mobility Show.
Compact SUV
However, Skoda’s biggest leap is expected to come in 2025 when it will launch a sub-4 SUV bringing it into one of the most competitive segments of the market. The name for the SUV will be revealed later this year and it's expected to be offered with Skoda’s 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine.