Skip advert
Advertisement

Skoda SUV family to grow

Skoda has revealed plans to build a bigger SUV to rival the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe from 2015

Skoda’s plans for a bigger SUV than the Yeti are well advanced, with the new model due in 2015. It’ll be available in five and seven-seat versions and won’t feature the Yeti name, as was originally the plan.

Speaking to Auto Express, Skoda’s Chairman Winfried Vahland said: "This needs to be a car that can sell 100,000 around the world, and the biggest demand for this type of car comes from China."

Advertisement - Article continues below

Vahland led Volkswagen in China between 2005 and 2010, and told us that he brought the idea of the big SUV back form the Far East. "The Chinese love the Yeti and they love bigger SUVs, which is where we need to go," he told us.

Yet although the Chinese market doesn’t favour seven seaters, the new SUV will be sold with three rows of seats because of demand in other markets, notably Russia. The car VW has as a target for the new model is the Hyundai Santa Fe - a big global success for Hyundai and available in five and seven-seat versions.

However, the new big Skoda won’t feature the Yeti name: "We have big plans globally for the Yeti," said Vahland. "We already make a stretched version of the Yeti in China and have started to build it in Russia, too. The Yeti needs to be a car we can sell 200,000 of each year."

Skoda finished 2012 having sold 939,200 cars – up 6.8 per cent on 2011. And Vahland has big expansion plans: "By 2018 we want to sell 1.5million cars globally. And between now and 2015, we’ll be launching a new Skoda every six months."

Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught
Skoda Epiq vRS exclusive image

New Skoda Epiq vRS to headline brand’s hot-SUV onslaught

Every future Skoda will get the go-faster treatment, with the brand also working on making cars sharper and more engaging
News
27 Jun 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
23 Jun 2025
New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels
Skoda Epiq exclusive image - front

New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels

The new Skoda Epic will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the brand’s ever-expanding SUV range and is set to offer plenty of space despite its compact …
News
23 Jun 2025
New Skoda 'Eviatiq' seven-seat SUV ready to bring Vision 7S design to showrooms
Skoda Vision 7S seven-seat EV - dynamic front 3/4

New Skoda 'Eviatiq' seven-seat SUV ready to bring Vision 7S design to showrooms

The Vision 7S will follow the upcoming Epiq - taking Skoda’s EV model line up to four
News
3 Jun 2025

Most Popular

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production
Range Rover Sport SV Black - front

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production

There’s also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs
News
1 Jul 2025
Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model
Ferrari Amalfi - front static

Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model

A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari’s new baby, but it’s probably some simple new buttons that will get customers’ attention
News
1 Jul 2025
Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV
Geely EX5 - front

Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV

Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
News
2 Jul 2025