Skoda To Introduce A New Full-Electric SUV By 2020

Czech automaker Skoda is all set to add a fully-electric upmarket SUV to its line-up by 2020. Work for the new SUV has already started and it will be based on Volkswagen’s MEB battery-electric platform. It is interesting that Skoda has chosen to introduce a new vehicle for this project, instead of applying the electric-technology to an existing model. 

Above Image: Skoda VisionS

Speaking to Autocar UK, Skoda’s Brand Director Duncan Movassaghi expressed, “It's easier to package something that was designed specifically to be an electric car. And electric cars will be more expensive (than petrols and diesels) for the foreseeable future, so it makes sense to produce a more premium model like an SUV.”

Above Image: Skoda VisionS

This decision from Skoda appears to be in-line with its parent company Volkswagen’s 2025 strategy to introduce 30 new electric and hybrid models. Skoda will benefit from the new MEB platform which has a target to provide an impressive range of 482km to an electric car at a single stretch. Also, the electric cars under this platform will only need 15 minutes of charging time and is said to cost even lesser than a relative combustion engine.

The new all-electric platform will not only provide ecological benefits, but it has been developed smartly to even increase space on the inside. The batteries are sandwiched in the middle floor of the platform and not beneath the boot floor as earlier. This creates an extra space to accommodate a third row of passengers. 

Meanwhile, focusing on its existing line-up as well, international markets will also see new plug-in hybrid variants of the Superb and the new Kodiaq SUV by 2019. Also, a replacement of the Yeti is on cards as part of the company’s product strategy. It will share its architecture with the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Audi Q3 and will be based on Volkswagen’s MQB platform. Skoda seems to have hit the right button with its upcoming line-up and it will be interesting to see when these cars enter the Indian shores.