So finally Skoda think that their existing line-up is too plain jane, and so they've launched the Rider. Effectively a "brightened up" Octavia with a silver lined interior door and dashboard trim, a new arm-rest for the front passengers and new seat trimmings as well as new wheel-caps.
Well thats great news, but whats not great is the supposed increase in price. For Rs. 11.92 lakhs on-road Mumbai, it just has become more expensive to buy. At a price touching Rs. 12 lakhs, Skoda has probably lost the plot. With their competitors trying to go downwards, Skoda thinks going upward makes sense. Oh yea?
Look at the competition! Toyota Corolla still manages an upwards of 900 units a month in sales, Chevrolet Optra 800+ while new entrant Elantra is already doing 700+. But Skoda is languishing at 400+. With more than 90% of those being Diesels. And Skoda probably needs to be awakened to the threat that the Elantra diesel poses to it. Effectively better loaded, with more space, a more powerful engine and nearly equally fuel-efficient, the car has potential to wipe out even this monopoly that Skoda was resting on.
So what's Skoda really doing wrong? At 11.92 lakhs, they shud consider giving alloys and ABS as well. C'mon, they can do that now since they now have gone into CKDs and thats saving them considerable duties. Secondly, buck up with ur service setup. Highly priced spares and labour charges are already deterring people, a poor service setup is even worse. After spending 6 years of "trying to understand" the Indian market before jumping in, i really think Skoda hasn't learnt all its lessons.
So whaddya think? Is Skoda sincere to the Indian market or is there a possibility that the same management issues that afflicted Fiat for so many years see a repeat in Skoda? Post in.
Revv