Skoda sales figures used to be posted regularly but I see that the latest figures haven't be put on display yet. Is there a reason?
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Skoda sales figures used to be posted regularly but I see that the latest figures haven't be put on display yet. Is there a reason?
Someone in Yeti's section has already mentioned the Feb figure. 324! Although better than Jan, certainly way worse than what it was at end of 2011. Now that Yeti and Fabia are both offering ORC free, and the other day I saw on newspaper that they are doing 103TDI 4x4 Elegance wagon for $49990 driveaway, this should push the figure up. But it will only hurt the resale value of current cars!
324 for the Yeti I guess would be okay but I hope that's not 324 for the whole brand. The Skoda website lists 38 national dealers so 324 would mean 2 cars registered per dealer per week. Even if half the listed dealers are only service agents that still means not enough sales per dealership to employ a single sales person let alone a whole dealership infrastructure.Quote:
Originally Posted by VAG newbie
I think that Skoda is doing just fine. You worry about nothing. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
Yes I guess you are correct after all this time two years ago they sold 88 vehicles in the month and since then they have dropped the Roomster, added the Superb wagon, the Fabia and the Yeti, spent a large amount on advertising, sponsored the countries premier cycle race twice, spent nearly 18 months branding with the Greater Western Sydney football team and considerably added to the dealer network for a net increase of 236 vehicles per month. I wonder how much each sale has actually cost Skoda?
Approximitely the same as some other car companies.Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
Very valid points, and I have no idea what denial juice some Skoda advocates suck on before replying to what is a sound, logical and legitimate arguements as to why such numbers are considered acceptable.Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
I think about other brands such as great wall who came in with a simple message. They focused on the fact they were cheap and advertised purely on price, they researched the market and brought their utility first at a price and with a complete line up. Needless to say in sales figures they ave left Skoda for dead.
I can hear all the tunnel visioned keyboard warriors yelling at their screens "yeah but their different, it's a completely different market in commercial". This much is true but is the approach really that much different? When the Octavia was introduced to the Australian audience it was just placed down in front of everyone as "there you go, that's a Skoda" without any real self promotion other than, it's it VW technology. The audience for mid sized wagons is primarily young mothers with first child, poss second, this demographic is sound in what it wants in a car like this.
First priority is safety, they will then look for storage/cabin space and ease of use of this space, pricing aginst competitors/value for money, then the fuel/running costs and then it will trickle down to less important things like branding.
As I said in a post in 2010, the 1.8tsi wagon was cheaper than the Mazda 6 classic wagon (petrol), was nearly 30% more fuel efficient, more standard features and it had a larger boot. It was also smaller in length so the primarily female audience would be drawn to a vehicle that ticked all the boxes and would be intrigued enough to out their bums behind the wheel. We all now that at the time if anyone had driven the Octavia back to back with the Mazda 6 and compared the above (or hopefully had a sales person point them out) it was a no brainer, the drive and interior quality were far superior.
The only thing they didn't square away which was a reasonable negative was the 4 star rating. This has been and always will be a huge hindrance in moving the Octavia into the fore. All the money they pissed up on the wall with the cycling and yet they didn't see it prudent to give 2 cars to ancap for them to crash test to get they 5 star they knew they would recieve.
Anyway the point of my dribble is that Skoda will never progress unless they focus on the intended audience and start selling their unique features to this demographic. 6 weeks ago I was visiting a friend at a house party, one of the girls was saying that her dad just brought this nice car, "it's a Skoda wagon thing, it's really big in the back, it's like a limo". We all know it's a Superb, she had been in it and had no idea, I piped up and went "oh yeah that's the Superb" she threw back "uuuum yeah, I think so".
Almost everyone else was bewildered, i think they thought we were speaking a foreign language. I faded into the back ground when the inevitable banter came up of "what's that, sounds like a disease hahaha". These aren't bogans their all professionals, late 20's very early 30's and their oblivious to th brand. We all know this is not an isolated incident, yet at the same party if I had said that I purchased a Great Wall ute they would all know it, they may not agree I made the right choice but they would be knowledgable enough to know what the brand is.
After 5 years in the market I can't believe that 300 odd units s anywhere acceptable for anyone else oter than Skoda.
Today, I helped a mate of mine buy a $1,000 commercial lawn mower.
When taking it out to the car, the guy behind the counter asked me "Is that your blue Mazda?", pointing at the only blue car in sight.
:(
EDIT: The Mahinda Pik-Up looks like a good ute. Now I have the Octy, I'm looking for a dedicated 4WD.
2nd EDIT: Damnit. Why do I always look at vehicles nobodies ever heard of. :S
Wrong on the nobody ever heard of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
They used to sell Mahinda Jeeps in NZ in the early 1970's. They were probably the most awful vehicle from a construction point of view I have ever seen and their reliability was worse. I assume that the build and reliability has improved but they are forever tarnished in my mind.
---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 PM ----------
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by RSwag
I know that the fan boys take my posts on the subject as being negative but that is far from the truth. I really like Skoda as a brand and know that it deserves to succeed in this market but the reality is that they are only just treading water compared to the competition and at the moment based on the real sales they are probably at the stage of swallowing an awful lot. Fans will point to VW's deep pockets and to the fabled European long term planning both of which are true but at the end of the day the ONLY measure of longevity and success in the auto industry is registered vehicles on the road and to that end Skoda Australia have done an appallingly bad job and deserve a right royal kick up the backside. As I said in an earlier post in this thread for sales to be averaging a handful per dealer per week on average after 5 years in the market and the generally positive response they have had from the motoring press is woeful. In the last 30 months months three supposedly killer class leading vehicles have been introduced and yet not one of them has been able to be sold in any great numbers. That alone points to a failure somewhere.
did you punch him? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
seriously, I am seeing more and more shhkodas on our roads daily .. the trend will continue. Like the ad used to say: "It won't heppen overnight, but it will heppen." :D
Which market? K1W1, they already did succeed, look at the Skoda globally, the company is based in the country with less than 10,000,000 people and they have like 1.6% of the world’s car market (I’m not sure how accurate it is but it doesn’t matter)Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...rge-61113.html it's last year's post in this forum.
You probably just comparing Australian market , but why would you want to compete against Holden, who can sell their cars only to the Middle East and only after they rebadged them.
We have around 22,000,000 people on this continent, which used to buy Holden, Ford and Toyota for decades. Why on earth would you go and spend a big money on advertising, when there are only a limited number of people who will buy a new car every year? They can't pinch all the sales from the leading brands in here. There are bigger brands globally and they sell fewer cars here. Go and find out how many new cars were sold in Australia compared to the other continents and countries.
Just look at the links bellow. :)
Skoda Auto sees Indian car market as very important: Targets 50% sales growth for 2012 | Rush Lane
The Skoda’s worldwide sales surged 15 per cent to 879,200 last year. More here... Skoda shifts up a gear into the fast lane - FT.com
Skoda Plans 1.5M Sales Globally and 500,000 in China in 2018
Skoda expects sales in China to total 500000 vehicles in 2018
From the above, I didn't see even once to mention Australia.
Skoda has to be selling the cars where the buyers are and it is not Australia, sure they want to maintain the presence here because it is a continent but we have less population than many small countries in Europe.
:)
Spot on Transporter , our crowded market makes it very difficult to get a foot hold , check how pug , renault and alfa have struggled over the years , and come to mention it , VW in the 90's , just a shadow of today .
Probably why skoda does not even bother with the US , too many brands , i think they have done quite well when you consider the octavia is late 90's looks , fabia frumpy , when these are replaced you wil see an up swing .
I think we all know the failure comes from Skodas leadership here locally, and whatever VW boss has his hand up Matts nether regions. What might have worked better was having Skoda fight on its own with backing from CZ, I'm sure pricing would have been a lot less from the get go, but then they might have burned and left quicker. Either way its hard for Skoda to do anything well when the people in charge here are protecting their own interests with VW and arguably Audi as well. I'm not sure but I thought SKoda UK who are their shining example are not part of VAG UK. We are seeing the global internal conflict of VW wanting SKoda to do well, but not cut their own grass, but on a very much public and local scale.Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
I would suggest rather than repeated posts on here, that owners get onto SKoda OZ and tell them exactly what they think, as you would all notice, they don't send any mechanism to determine feedback, no surveys whatsoever, just more a spray and pray approach to selling cars. It really says something when they don't want to know what current owners think, and shows an extremely bad business plan, our quality system auditors would crucify us if we didn't check the pulse on how we are doing every now and again.
George unfortunately was about the only Skoda related person I know who geniunely wanted feedback, apart from some of the guys at Bayford, of course none of them are around anymore. Anyway I have sent them a letter letting them know that instead of getting better they have actually declined as they aren't reading this, and to keep showing their scores in the JD power surveys from the UK is meaningless when they emulate nothing that the UK SKoda does here and don't even attempt to try.
They are great cars and Skoda CZ is a great company, we just have to put up with a half assed hobby of VWs here unfortunately.
@Transporter
We all realise that Skoda globally are doing some amazing things. I dont think any of us expect the brand to compete with Mazda or Holden. I think the frustration has arisen from a product that is clearly superior to its competitors floundering because of pricing, poor marketing and a shambolic dealer network.
What you fail to see is that although we are a small market this in terms of their potential growth is irrelevant. The features i outlined for the Octy were never highlighted to the intended audience, they had 5 years to tell the Australian public who they are, what they can offer and why they should be the prefered choice and they havent even been able to establish the most basic thing, brand recognition.
As an organisation they have ignored the most basic of guidelines for getting a product to market. Any other brand would have disssppeared, they remain because VW Oz put up the funds. It appears they put up the funds only to stifle any success, from the outside looking in, which we all are, it is a ridiculous scenario that i think posters are fed up with.
As i've said previously KIWI has made valid points which suggest he would be more than capable of doing a significantly better job at running the brand.
It all comes back to VW seeing Skoda as an experiment, something it appears they are doing at the expense if current owners!!
The other car forum i run has a fairly fanatical group of cyclists. They are also car nuts & fully aware of the Skoda brand (there are 3 Octavias on the forum). Most of them have changed cars since Skoda came on the market & they test drove Skoda.Quote:
Originally Posted by RSwag
So what do they own? (in order from the biggest cycling nut downwards)
Lotus Evora (just sold an Elise) & Ford Fiesta
BMW 325 petrol sedan & 320 diesel wagon
Honda Jazz with a typeR engine & 30yo civic for parking at the station
Range Rover Evoque & a Turbo Renault
Land Rover Disco 4(?) & Renault Clio RS
Liberty H6 wagon & Honda CRV (did have a MKV Golf GTI)
Skoda Wagon & Mazda MX5 with extensive chassis mods
Honda Accord Euro & Subaru Forrester
Other stuff I can't remember.
My point is that sponsorship of cycling isn't converting into sales in Australia.
Another example is a female friend who is reasonably adventurous with her cars. She currently drives an Alfa Romeo diesel. She drove my Octavia a few years back & said if ever I want to sell it, can she get first option. She's currently looking at replacing the Alfa & Skoda isn't on her radar (but VW & Audi are).
Don't do it. I've had a look at them (a while back) & the technology is quite similar to the Series 2 Land Rovers I did my apprenticeship on in the late 70s (& the Series 2 was pretty old then). Maybe they've improved but the original ones tha Micheal Tynan brought in had no synchro on 1st (& 2nd?).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
Very tempted. Should have. XDQuote:
Originally Posted by bluefrog
There's a business around here that has a white pre-FL vRS diesel. Complete with company advertising. I was very impressed.
Then, there was the mother, father and 2 or 3 kids frantically waving as they saw an exact copy of daddy's car driving past (blue FL vRS wagon).
Then there's the silver and anthracite vRS's I see driving around.
Everyone waves. Its great.
Well, except the drivers of the lower-spec models. And the Scout, which is floating around somewhere.
Haven't actually seen anything thats not an Octy... Or a Yeti. Seen two of those.
I've been reading a few things on the ute, and it looks pretty nice. Might head down to the tractor place that has one as a work ute. Dual cab with body-tray.Quote:
Originally Posted by brad
No synchro's? What?? That has to be the ones from the 70's... Right?
Nope. It's the modern one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
I live near to where the importer has all his dealerships (Tynan is a very successful car salesman - he's worth millions). It appears that a lot of his tech staff (who wouldn't normally get a vehicle) have Mahindras as company drives. I'd assume it was because nobody was buying them & they wanted to get some registrations on the board (common among all the brands).
You'd be better off with a Great Wall or a Ssangyong or a Suzuki Jimny. Don't say I didn't warn you
Stigma about the GW, Ssangyong I don't think come with diesel, and the Jimny (which I would love) is a little small for cargo and doesn't come in diesel.Quote:
Originally Posted by brad
If it did, I'd be all over it in a flash.
You're considering a Mahindra but concerned about the stigma of a Great Wall. OMGROFLCOPTER!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
Well, I guess if you buy a Mahindra then everyone that works at Eagle Boys, Dominoes, Saphire Carwash & Coles Express will want to be your friend. :-)
IIRC SSangyong are all diesel in Oz, usually old Merc designs built under licence. The looks? Distinctive doesn't come close for most of em :eek:
Considering the nearest GW and Mahindra dealers are Campbelltown, I don't really have all that much to aspire to.Quote:
Originally Posted by brad
I'd ultimately love a GU Ti Patrol, but...
After seeing how many Patrols had reported and unreported issues that Nissan just don't want to know about with about 20 yrs of my Dad owning all the various models, I would be very hesitant to touch one again. The last 3 he had all blew their engines at around 20k each time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
No dude, SsangYongs don't come in petrol. I'd choose a Great Wall over a Mahindra anyday - you can tell by how many GWs you see compared to Mahindras. I've only ever seen one Mahindra on the road ever, and they've been here as long as Skoda have. I see Great Walls every minute almost; they're everywhere! Don't even touch a Mahindra, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticality
Go for a drive to Tynan Mercedes/Chrysler/Dodge (which is also the Mahindra showroom but they hide it well) on the 5 ways at Miranda. There's a back street into the service department & there'd be 10 of them parked there (issued to the techs I assume).Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake02
They must be shockers because a fair few of the techs would live locally & have full use of the vehicles & I never see them on the weekends. Pretty bad if it's free & they still don't drive it. LOL
If ya gotta go budget have a look at How Safe is Your Car. If you compare Mahindra, Great Wall utes and Ssangyong Actyon none is stellar but frankly I'd only go near the Ssangyong if I had to chose one of these. The others are not going to be your friend if you have a significant stack (2 stars and really low offset frontal crash scores). The Ssangyong is still below recommended (3 stars. Recommended is 4 stars or better) but it is at least less dismal.
Budget is one thing. Sacrificing your personal safety to save money is another.
I couldn't agree more. It's like with everything in life; you get what you paid for. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by brad
According to caradvice.com.au, 393 sales for March - 23rd overall.
Doing well to beat mobs like Citroen, Peugeot, Renault.
People might ask "is it Russian" :-p, but, at least it's not French!
Bad news for Yeti though, not sure of the sales figure, but Mazda sold 1415 CX5's!
I have now officially seen as many (2) CX5s on the road as I have seen Yetis.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOctaviaRS
I didn't see the CX5 on the road yet. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
I see too many Tiguans on the road and I don't know if I like it.
Does "Tiguan" translate to "21st century VW Beetle clone" in some language or other? :facepalm:Quote:
Originally Posted by Transporter
Nah, Tiguan translates to "Most impractical car for a family with a pram, but we'll buy one anyway because we're too short sighted to shop around"Quote:
Originally Posted by K1W1
I'm sorry guys, we travel light and since my kids are in mid 20', it's perfect car for a couple without small kids. The space for the rear passengers is generous; many bigger cars could be jealous. :?Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOctaviaRS
At the risk of being yelled at for being OT with our two kids (3 years apart) our pram was only used maybe 5 or 6 times in total and I can't recall it ever being transported anywhere by car. A Tiguan would have had more than enough room for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOctaviaRS
When i was ditching the scoobie 3.0R wagon i spent a day in a tiguan , great if you like vans , but it had no van space , load space is smaller than my GTI , my bet is the replacement will get a bigger load area .Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackOctaviaRS
Well you hopefully be pleased to know it is plus 1 this week. I've had VWs before, and loved my old Passat. This week I got my Škoda Octavia Scout Premium. I've had a grin all week since I got it. It's nice being in such an exclusive club and no one knowing what it is. Much easier to spot in the Woolies car park ;)