Skoda to skip plug-in hybrids and focus on EVs
Czech brand has no plans for PHEV in Australia, focusing instead on EV starting with 2024 Skoda EnyaqSkoda has no plans to offer plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in Australia across any of its model lines, preferring to either keep internal combustion or skip straight to battery-electric powertrains starting with the 2024 Skoda Enyaq EV next year.
Plug-in hybrid variants of the Skoda Octavia and Superb passenger cars have been available overseas for some time, and PHEV is expected to be offered in the next-generation 2024 Skoda Kodiaq large SUV.
But with the release of the electric Skoda Enyaq mid-size SUV, which is due to launch Down Under late next year, Skoda Australia boss Michael Irmer says the Czech brand’s future is with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).
Plug-in hybrids use a combination of an internal combustion engine and a larger battery than a traditional hybrid (think Toyota Prius), offering around 50-70km of electric-only running but with the flexibility of a petrol engine if required.
“I think [EV] is the way for us. We have it [PHEV] in the [Volkswagen] group, other brands have it, for us it would be available with next Kodiaq, [but] I think the timing for that is not ideal for us, so we will skip it there and go straight to BEV,” said Irmer.
“The bottom line is that BEVs have a whole heap of features, PHEV is a bridging technology. It’s been around for a while, Skoda had it available in the Octavia and Superb globally.
“What would be interesting for us [would be] to have it in the current-gen Kodiaq, when it wasn’t available, and now the next-gen coincides with the launch of Enyaq.
“So we made a decision to jump straight to BEVs and if somebody does want a PHEV we can refer them to our friends at Cupra.”
Fellow Volkswagen Group Australia brand Cupra currently offers a pair of plug-in hybrid models, the Cupra Leon VZe and Formentor VZe.
Skoda’s first local electric offering, the Enyaq SUV, is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the final quarter of 2024, with the order book set to open in the second quarter of next year.
Related: 2024 Skoda Enyaq EV: Australian line-up confirmed
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Related: GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Plug-in Skoda Octavia RS iV unveiled
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