Skoda’s Future EV Lineup Will Include Small Budget Model

Skoda is planning on building a total of three electric cars in the Czech Republic, using the VW Group’s MEB platform. While the flagship model will be based on the Vision IV concept unveiled in Geneva, part of the plan is to also build a small and affordable model within the next four years.

The middle car, so to speak, will be based on the same Vision IV concept, and leave the Mlada Bolesav plant in the second half of 2020 as a more conventional SUV, said the company’s CEO, Bernhard Maier.

Both vehicles will be built on the same line as the Skoda Octavia, which Maier says gives the Czech automaker a lot of flexibility. “We can scale and adjust to some extent if customer demand changes.”

The people’s EV?

As for the third and most affordable model, it will be built at Skoda’s Kvasiny plant, and will ultimately join the VW Group’s family of entry-level MEB cars. This model is currently in the planning stage.

“We are looking for a lower specced car and once we have a positive business case we will come up with a clear solution,” added the Skoda CEO. Meanwhile, VW boss Herbert Diess told Auto Express earlier this month that MEB cars will be smaller in size than the Golf, while offering similar interior space, reports Autonews.

Skoda will also launch a fully electric version of its Citigo model, which is to be built at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Czech automaker wants 25% of its cars sold by 2025 to be electrified, with five fully-electric models available to customers within the same time frame.

Still, Maier isn’t exactly sure about what to expect with regards to demand.

“I don’t know how the customer will reflect on our offer. If our reference was those customers who have driven our electric cars in focus groups, then we can easily achieve 25%, but it is quite obvious the demand will be different if you talk to customers living in urban areas than those living in rural areas.”

While pricing for the entry-level EV remains to be determined, Skoda sales chief Alain Favey expects that the flagship MEB EV, which will be based on the Vision IV concept as previously stated, will likely cost about the same as the Kodiaq or the Superb.

Pictured: Skoda Vision IV Concept