Skoda door open

THE introduction of the Skoda brand into Australia looks increasingly certain following the endorsement of the move by the head of the VW brand worldwide, Dr Michael Kern.

Speaking exclusively to GoAuto during a flying visit to review VW Australia’s operations late last month, Dr Kern said: "The window of opportunity is open now." His view was also strongly endorsed by VW Group Australia (VGA) managing director Jutta Dierks, who said the Australian market would never be in a better position to add the brand than it was now.

At the same time, Ms Dierks virtually ruled out any chance of the launch of the Seat brand locally. She said it was "very safe to assume that we do not want to do Seat" in Australia.

"We do very nicely with VW," she said. "We could probably come in with another brand (Skoda) but after that we should concentrate on what we are good at.

"Seat is not on the agenda ... If we bring another brand in it will definitely be Skoda." She said the Skoda decision had not been made but would most likely be known in the next month.

"If I was the one making the decision I would say the timing is right now because the market is still in very good shape. And you see what Fiat is doing.

They are coming in with one model and it will do nicely. They are doing it step-by-step.

"So the market is obviously open and still able to embrace a new brand. So if I was making the decision, I would say that if we want to do it then let us do it now. If the market is still able to take in another brand, don’t wait.

"It is all about timing. You can do whatever you like but (if you leave it too long) what is the point if the market can no longer cope with it," she said.

"Definitely there is a chance for Skoda. It has been here before. Not very well done. Independent importers with a niche brand that was not really treated very nicely." Ms Dierks said Skoda worldwide separates itself from VW "by offering good value at a good price. It is always just a bit bigger than a VW. For example an Octavia is bigger than a Golf but not normally as expensive in most markets".

"If you sharpen the profile of the Skoda brand here there is definitely room for both Skoda and VW.

"So I would love to see the brand here quite soon." VGA expects to launch with the Octavia medium-sized car and the Roomster small car, a Scout version of which was released at last week’s Bologna motor show.

The Scout has "off-road" visual elements such as large amounts of plastic body cladding.