Why Skoda Australia won’t bother with plug-in hybrids

Skoda Australia confirmed that it will not offer plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) locally, and plans to transition straight to electric vehicles with the launch of the Enyaq in 2024.

According to Skoda Australia chief executive Michael Irmer, the plug-in hybrid is a ‘bridging technology’ and is only being sold in Europe because of the “strong government incentive program behind it that has fueled its success. Surname”.

With the PHEV’s side benefit tax (FBT) exemption expiring in Australia from 1 April 2025, Mr Irmer said there was “not enough time” and the brand would instead “focus straight on the BEV”.

“[PHEV technology] only available in Octavia and Awesome but these are not the big segments in Australia so maybe in the previous generation we could have done it but it’s not there. Now it’s ready, and I think I’d say the ship has set sail,” Irmer said.

“It has always been seen as a bridging technology, and I think we are standing on the other side of the bridge.”

He said demand for PHEVs is falling in Europe without government encouragement, noting that there are allegations that many PHEV owners there have received them as company vehicles and not charged a fee because they have fuel card.

The result is vehicles that consume more resources to produce and use more fuel than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles.

Skoda Australia’s decision will make other Volkswagen Group brands available to local PHEV buyers. Cupra had Leon Vze And Formentor VZeVolkswagen plans to introduce Golf, Tiguan And touareg PHEV and Audi are introducing a Q5 PHEV.

The Skoda Octavia And Great already offered with overseas and next-generation PHEV powertrains Kodiaq revealed later this year will also have a PHEV option.

According to VFACTS sales data, only 2797 PHEVs were sold in Australia between January and May 2023, compared with 29,293 conventional hybrids and 32,050 pure electric vehicles.

However, PHEV sales are still up 18% year-on-year. However, it is clear that EVs continue to widen the gap with PHEVs as their sales increase 275.2%.

Skoda will launch Australia’s first all-electric vehicle, the Enyaqin 2024 – about three years after deliveries start in Europe.

Globally, the brand is also being established for a series of new EVs launching from 2024 to 2026and Mr. Irmer said some of these are in the “relatively early stages of design concepts” and others are fairly close to launch and design.

A spokesperson for Skoda Australia said: “There was a delay for Enyaq, but Enyaq has made it easier for the rest to follow up quickly. auto expert.

The brand has six electric vehicle models planned for 2026 that “will cover all vehicle segments relevant to our customers”.

By 2027, Skoda will invest a total of 5.6 billion euros ($9.26 billion) in electric vehicles.

After Enyaq arrives in 2024, it is expected that Elroq will be revealed next to replace the karoq.

Skoda Australia has yet to confirm when it will launch the Elroq in Australia but Mr Irmer said it could be more than two to three years.

An electric wagon and a larger three-row SUV, now called the Combi and Space respectively, will launch in Europe in 2026.

Space will be about 4.9m long – about 200mm longer than the current Kodiaq – and offer seven seats.

The brand doesn’t have a clear goal of going electric only and Mr Irmer said at this stage Skoda Australia plans to offer ICE models alongside its electric vehicles by the 2030s.

“I think what we know now is that we can say we will be able to deliver the product in the 2030s,” Mr. Irmer said when asked about Skoda’s ICE plans.

“But let’s face it, everything from five years onward, the plans can be tailored to need.

“So we’ve prepared for a very quick adaptation, adapting to that, but we’ll also move out if it takes longer.”