Skoda postpone fabia lauch till AutoExpo '08

speedzak · 8th September 2007, 17:26

Will it be launched after Maruti launches the next generation Swift? Or atleast after Fiat launches Punto?

Skoda is being very foolish here. And it is taking the Indian customers for a bit granded. There has been promises from Skoda from the time Octavia became a hit. And if we remeber correctly, the Octy was the only prime reason for people to fall in love with Skoda. Then after that, it was all sad stories including the biggest blindfolding of the customers by renaing the new Octavia as Laura.

Please! It is time Skoda stops all these playing around and puts things straight before it is too late.

rocksterraghu · 8th September 2007, 17:42

I think someone posted pictures of the blue Skoda Fabia that I saw on the Mysore-Bangalore highway a year ago.

What in the world is Skoda upto? I know of a couple of friends who have been waiting for the launch. I spoke to them over the phone after looking at this and they're pretty much sure they want to buy something else. Reason? They've already delayed the purchase (by about a year) and another year delay would mean a neat stretch, buying a Civic or the like. Youth replaces youth - agreed, but competition is getting stiffer by the day. Skoda, you listening?

rubin2006 · 8th September 2007, 18:39

I think Next Generation IE our kids for sure will drive this car until then keep waiting anything before that is a Bonus and anything more than 5.5 lacks would be to expensive for this car

dadu · 8th September 2007, 20:03

In this very customer centric and where lots of other options are available unlike the Fiat/Amby era, i would say "ITS A MISTAKE"

Skoda will realise it, once the customer start moving to other options, as many are planning to...

Most favourable time for sale is October to Diwali, due to the festive season and people want a new car parked in thier house by diwali.

I am sure the industry knows it, its experiences lots of new launch delays.

rajneeesh · 8th September 2007, 20:17

Skoda should well remember that the festive season begins with the Navratras in Sept 2nd half with a lot of people going in cars around this time. By Auto Expo there will be lot of impending launches including Getz Diesel, Fiat GP and Aveo Diesel.Waiting may not be all that good idea.

da_lowrider · 9th September 2007, 14:05

While it is dissapointing that the Fabia will be further delayed and the reaction from most people is as expected (and probably justified), what will be really interesting to see would be , how many of the expected launches actually happen during the festive period. What we forget is that the automobile market is extremely cut -throat in most markets and for most manufacturers.

Without a doubt the festive season is usually a gold mine in terms of sales. But the question to be asked is that now with the auto - expo just a few months away will most companies go ahead with launches during the festive season or wait for the bigger stage i.e the auto expo? Auto-manufacturers usually need to keep to reinventing themselves, the biggest driving force for this is the competition. With launching the Fabia immediately Skoda Auto faces the risk of not having something spectacular at the Auto-Expo. While the Fabia being displayed at the Auto-Expo will not be biggest topic of discussion for us members, we forget that we comprise a really small part of the sales target that company hopes to achieve. But the 40 something executive who is happy with his Octavia and is normally not too discerning about cars will be interested in reading about the Auto Expo as it is covered across all the daily news papers. It is out here where his purchase decision will be initially influenced.

Another important factor is the similarity to the extremely successful Swift, the company probably more than all of us realises the precarious position it is in. Its biggst launc since its arrival inan extremely sensitive market is in danger of starting of on the wrong foot. When it is launched the Fabia needs to create an indelible impression in consumers' minds. This is something that can be achieved at the Auto-Expo and the coverage that it recieves.

These could be the reasons for Skoda putting of the launch till the Auto-Expo.

jeetu4444 · 10th September 2007, 05:37

even the new indica will be lauched they will have lot of players against them

shashant · 10th September 2007, 07:56

I also agree with da_lowrider. Fiat is also planning the same for Punto.
Moreover they may also want to avoid the Year end.

LLL · 10th September 2007, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashant

I also agree with da_lowrider. Fiat is also planning the same for Punto.
Moreover they may also want to avoid the Year end.

Last year (or whenever the last "auto expo" was held), most of manufacturers stayed away (if i remember the news correctly)...Theres hardly a few folks who care about "expos"..so if Skoda is waiting for an expo..then i think they have the wrong guy at helm.

In India, people really dont visit a expo and buy their products. product selection is done more by word of mouth or advertisements on TV...

da_lowrider · 10th September 2007, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLL

In India, people really dont visit a expo and buy their products. product selection is done more by word of mouth or advertisements on TV...

Honda was a company that stayed away from the auto expo, a company that has enjoys an excellent level of brand equity with consumers' in India.

And like I have said in my post the auto expo isn't just about the no. of people who physically go there, its also about the coverage that the launches get in the press and also through electronic media.

normally_crazy · 10th September 2007, 23:36

Well according to dealers here - November is when the Fabia is coming. Don't know what to make of it.

iraghava · 11th September 2007, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by da_lowrider

Honda was a company that stayed away from the auto expo, a company that has enjoys an excellent level of brand equity with consumers' in India.

Really? Did it? Then can you please explain these pictures taken by me at the 2006 Auto Expo?

LLL · 11th September 2007, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by da_lowrider

And like I have said in my post the auto expo isn't just about the no. of people who physically go there, its also about the coverage that the launches get in the press and also through electronic media.

Dont want to

but wouldnt it be better to hog the limelight when there are no new launches (check out the attention that Passat got) instead of when every carmaker is launching something new or every CEO is talking. I suspect that in the autoexpo, max attention would be garnered by Ratan Tata for his 1 lakh car or by Khattar for new launches from maruti. Skode may get page 4 coverage.

anyways back to topic...probably fiat can take away the fabia customers now.

vkochar · 11th September 2007, 08:14

Hehehe .. Ishaan .. Good one there

Maybe da_lowrider is talking about some mumbai expo and not delhi expo !!

da_lowrider · 11th September 2007, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

Really? Did it? Then can you please explain these pictures taken by me at the 2006 Auto Expo?

Sorry, ny bad it was in the 2004 edition that they had stayed away I should have specified that.

8th September 2007, 17:26	#16
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,346 Thanked: 29 Times	Will it be launched after Maruti launches the next generation Swift? Or atleast after Fiat launches Punto? Skoda is being very foolish here. And it is taking the Indian customers for a bit granded. There has been promises from Skoda from the time Octavia became a hit. And if we remeber correctly, the Octy was the only prime reason for people to fall in love with Skoda. Then after that, it was all sad stories including the biggest blindfolding of the customers by renaing the new Octavia as Laura. Please! It is time Skoda stops all these playing around and puts things straight before it is too late.
	() Thanks

8th September 2007, 17:42	#17
rocksterraghu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,240 Thanked: 239 Times View My Garage	I think someone posted pictures of the blue Skoda Fabia that I saw on the Mysore-Bangalore highway a year ago. What in the world is Skoda upto? I know of a couple of friends who have been waiting for the launch. I spoke to them over the phone after looking at this and they're pretty much sure they want to buy something else. Reason? They've already delayed the purchase (by about a year) and another year delay would mean a neat stretch, buying a Civic or the like. Youth replaces youth - agreed, but competition is getting stiffer by the day. Skoda, you listening?
	() Thanks

8th September 2007, 18:39	#18
rubin2006 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: delhi/calgary Posts: 286 Thanked: Once	I think Next Generation IE our kids for sure will drive this car until then keep waiting anything before that is a Bonus and anything more than 5.5 lacks would be to expensive for this car
	() Thanks

8th September 2007, 20:03	#19
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,800 Thanked: 463 Times View My Garage	In this very customer centric and where lots of other options are available unlike the Fiat/Amby era, i would say "ITS A MISTAKE" Skoda will realise it, once the customer start moving to other options, as many are planning to... Most favourable time for sale is October to Diwali, due to the festive season and people want a new car parked in thier house by diwali. I am sure the industry knows it, its experiences lots of new launch delays. Last edited by dadu : 8th September 2007 at 20:04.
	() Thanks

8th September 2007, 20:17	#20
rajneeesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: noida Posts: 1,121 Thanked: 561 Times	Skoda should well remember that the festive season begins with the Navratras in Sept 2nd half with a lot of people going in cars around this time. By Auto Expo there will be lot of impending launches including Getz Diesel, Fiat GP and Aveo Diesel.Waiting may not be all that good idea.
	() Thanks

9th September 2007, 14:05	#21
da_lowrider BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai / Gold Coast Posts: 247 Thanked: 238 Times	While it is dissapointing that the Fabia will be further delayed and the reaction from most people is as expected (and probably justified), what will be really interesting to see would be , how many of the expected launches actually happen during the festive period. What we forget is that the automobile market is extremely cut -throat in most markets and for most manufacturers. Without a doubt the festive season is usually a gold mine in terms of sales. But the question to be asked is that now with the auto - expo just a few months away will most companies go ahead with launches during the festive season or wait for the bigger stage i.e the auto expo? Auto-manufacturers usually need to keep to reinventing themselves, the biggest driving force for this is the competition. With launching the Fabia immediately Skoda Auto faces the risk of not having something spectacular at the Auto-Expo. While the Fabia being displayed at the Auto-Expo will not be biggest topic of discussion for us members, we forget that we comprise a really small part of the sales target that company hopes to achieve. But the 40 something executive who is happy with his Octavia and is normally not too discerning about cars will be interested in reading about the Auto Expo as it is covered across all the daily news papers. It is out here where his purchase decision will be initially influenced. Another important factor is the similarity to the extremely successful Swift, the company probably more than all of us realises the precarious position it is in. Its biggst launc since its arrival inan extremely sensitive market is in danger of starting of on the wrong foot. When it is launched the Fabia needs to create an indelible impression in consumers' minds. This is something that can be achieved at the Auto-Expo and the coverage that it recieves. These could be the reasons for Skoda putting of the launch till the Auto-Expo.
	() Thanks

10th September 2007, 05:37	#22
jeetu4444 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 305 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	even the new indica will be lauched they will have lot of players against them
	() Thanks

10th September 2007, 07:56	#23
shashant BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Poona Posts: 263 Thanked: 364 Times	I also agree with da_lowrider. Fiat is also planning the same for Punto. Moreover they may also want to avoid the Year end. Last edited by GTO : 10th September 2007 at 09:49. Reason: Please do NOT quote the entire post in your replies.
	() Thanks

10th September 2007, 23:36	#26
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 544 Times View My Garage	Well according to dealers here - November is when the Fabia is coming. Don't know what to make of it.
	() Thanks

11th September 2007, 08:14	#29
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,159 Thanked: 907 Times View My Garage	Hehehe .. Ishaan .. Good one there Maybe da_lowrider is talking about some mumbai expo and not delhi expo !!
	() Thanks