Sights set on Europe for new Kodiaq coupé
Boss confirms desire to sell Evoque rival here
SKODA bosses have also given the green light to bringing a coupé version of the new Kodiaq SUV to Europe – but are struggling to find the production capacity to deliver it, Auto Express has learned.
The coupé-suv – in effect a slightly larger rival for the Range Rover Evoque and cars like the BMW X4 – was teased to journalists back in 2015, and it has already been confirmed for China, where it will be produced in one of Skoda’s four plants in the country alongside a cheaper large 4x4.
However, the Czech company has been wrestling with the cultural implications of selling in Europe a vehicle focused on style instead of the brand’s usual values – space and practicality.
Now Skoda’s board member with responsibility for research and development, Christian Strube, has acknowledged for the first time that the management want to sell the coupé-suv to European customers. “We
“The model has already been confirmed for China, where it will be built in one of Skoda’s plants”
would like to have this car in Europe, yes,” he said. “The real problem is that we do not have the capacity to build everything that we would like to build.”
He added: “There would be a really big potential for that car. It’s not a question of potential; I think there is a business case. It’s a question of capacity in our factories. We’re now selling so many cars that we’re discussing where we would be able to build this car [the coupé-suv].
“The opportunity for Skoda here in Europe would be really high, because it’s so emotional, so attractive, that it would be the next step for us as a brand. Skoda has a tradition of being functional, but more and more it’s emotion and innovation. This car is pure emotion.”
It is unlikely that Skoda would have the capacity required to make European versions of the car at its Chinese factories; the company already has local production lines for the Fabia, Octavia, Yeti, Rapid, Rapid Spaceback and Superb in the region, so even slotting in the Chinese Kodiaq, its coupé sister vehicle and that cheaper 4x4 is likely to require significant investment.