Skoda Launch Octavia in China

In Shanghai, Czech car manufacturer Skoda launched the sale of the Skoda vehicles which are manufactured in China. The first offering of the car manufacturer is the Skoda Octavia and some of which have already been purchased and now owned by Chinese car buyers.

The Chinese auto market is currently the second largest automobile market in the world and Skoda sees it fit that they manufacture and sell Skoda vehicles in the said country. The Chinese auto market is continually growing with sales increasing by two digits. Last year alone, more than 4 million new vehicles were sold in the country. For this year, experts expect sales to reach 4.9 million.

Skoda reported that they have already received more than 10,000 orders for the Skoda Octavia. The company started accepting orders for the small family car in April 20 of this year.

At the launching of the Octavias, Fred Kappler, the Auto BOD Member responsible for sales and marketing for Skoda, has this to say: “China has become a key market in Škoda Auto's global strategy and plays a substantial role in the future development of our brand. The launch of the Octavia marks the beginning of a new era at Škoda. The Octavia has won many awards in Europe, offers top-class quality and a unique design and is distinctive for its timeless elegance and attractive appearance.”

The Octavia is designed to attract the attention of car buyers with its unique styling cues like the billet grille that is accented by the Skoda logo. Kappler extolled the Octavia’s virtues saying: “Using state-of-the-art technology, the vehicle as been developed to meet the requirements of modern clients and be environmentally friendly. I believe this car will surpass the expectations of our Chinese customers and will continue the success story that it has started in Europe. Moreover, we have built an exclusive sales and service network in China to be where our customers are and to guarantee our high quality of service also in this part of the world.”

The Skoda vehicles launched recently by the Czech car manufacturer are built in the Shanghai Volkswagen plant. The company will then sell the China-made Skoda vehicles using their new sales network in the country. Skoda’s sales network is currently comprised of more than 50 exclusive dealerships across the world.

In the global market, the Skoda Octavia is offered with a wide range of gasoline and diesel engines. The company is yet to announce whether they will be offering the six gasoline and five diesel engines for the Octavia in China. Aside from the wide range of engine choices, trim level choice for the Octavia is also numerous. The trim level for the Skoda Octavia is compose of the Classic, Ambiente, 4x4, Sport, Elegance, Scout, Laurin&Klement, and the vRS.

Optional features for the Octavia includes acoustic front and rear parking sensors and a tire pressure monitoring system. Active headrests are also offered as optional features although it is a standard feature for the Laurin&Klement. Curtain airbags for passenger safety is an option for all trim level of the Octavia. An electronic sunroof is also an optional feature. All in all, the Octavia is a family car with lots to offer to the increasing number of Chinese car buyers.

Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications.