Should i be worried?

[Skoda Convert]

Skoda sales were up 53.1% last year, I don't think they're leaving anytime soon...and that's all they want as well, growth! And I think Skoda Aus headquarters are already as useless as T's on a B, imagine them with 1000 car sales a month. Terrible!!!

53.1% sounds impressive but the total figure was 1200 odd, less than great wall. citreon, Renault and Proton. in comparison VW sold over 30,000 so as a brand we could have only hoped 2010 would have seen stronger growth.

Pricing the 118kw Wagon $1300 odd dollars cheaper than the VW Wagon is quite concerning. You can't honestly believe people would pay more for a product they know nothing about. Even if they research it all the indicators in the media have it as the poor mans VW, logic would suggest it is priced accordingly, if you want it to be competitive and i emphasis on the IF.

I also read on one of the reviews on the Golf Wagon that this is the only country in the world where a Skoda is more expensive than its VW counterpart. It was an individual comment but if true makes the whole thing a little more perplexing if Skoda Australia believe they have a future here.

[Jake02]

53.1% sounds impressive but the total figure was 1200 odd, less than Great Wall, Citroen, Renault and Proton. in comparison VW sold over 30,000 so as a brand we could have only hoped 2010 would have seen stronger growth.

I know that the sales weren't high, BUT my point was that it's growth. Growth is what they want. Growth is why they're not gonna leave these shores. I've heard from different Skoda sources that they're not particularly concerned about sales numbers. I might add that while all those brands you mentioned (bar Great Wall) sold more than Skoda, their sales are very much down (especially Citroen - 43%). I predict big things this year for Skoda. Yeti, Superb Combi, Fabia hatch and wagon should all be here and I reckon they're gonna sell well. But, as I said, Skoda Australia is run by idiots, hence why they're so friggin expensive! VW Aus would revamp the staff before pulling Skoda out of here...

[team_v]

Pricing the 118kw Wagon $1300 odd dollars cheaper than the VW Wagon is quite concerning. You can't honestly believe people would pay more for a product they know nothing about. Even if they research it all the indicators in the media have it as the poor mans VW, logic would suggest it is priced accordingly, if you want it to be competitive and i emphasis on the IF.

The thing is, people are willing to pay more for a product they know nothing about.

The Golf R is coming out at a price above the current Audi S3 drive away price.
Yet people are willing to put down deposit's and fork over large sums of cash for a vehicle that hasn't even been released here and holds less of a premium branding than the alternative.


I agree that Skoda need to pick up their game to increase sales and update their website accordingly, however i don't know what is going on behind the scenes with VWA.

[dodgey]

Not the only country... Skoda is higher priced than VW (base models) in Singapore. Well, it was when I priced a Jetta sedan and compared it to the Octavia liftback...

Have not checked the Golf Wagon as yet though...

[Frufru]

Pricing the 118kw Wagon $1300 odd dollars cheaper than the VW Wagon is quite concerning. You can't honestly believe people would pay more for a product they know nothing about. Even if they research it all the indicators in the media have it as the poor mans VW, logic would suggest it is priced accordingly, if you want it to be competitive and i emphasis on the IF.

I also read on one of the reviews on the Golf Wagon that this is the only country in the world where a Skoda is more expensive than its VW counterpart. It was an individual comment but if true makes the whole thing a little more perplexing if Skoda Australia believe they have a future here.

Yea, I find it weird too. Skoda position themselves cheaper then equivalent VW products in Europe. I do find it really strange when the pricing structure is reversed here. It just does not make sense at all.
I am just wandering who determines pricing structure? Is it VW or Skoda? Are they completely independent?

Otherwise I feel Skoda made a lot of moves lately which do appear to confirm they are here for a long haul. Let it be sponsorship commitments, intention to release new models. Yet, positioning pricewise, from the outer, appears to be somewhat coutra-productive. Yet, I still think this does not apply to what money you have to pay for equivalent products. But sometimes people will not go for a testdrive if they feel that they are not getting good value at the first place, even though at the end, the final price differential may be totally different.