VOLKSWAGEN’s (VW) Skoda unwrapped a 33,000 euros (S$47,044) electric SUV as Europe’s biggest automaker tries to weather a slump in demand and intensifying competition from China.
The Elroq is available in three different battery sizes that all offer fast charging. The model costs roughly the same as its combustion-engine counterpart – a critical threshold for electric vehicle (EV) makers looking to boost sales.
The SUV “will be a game changer”, for the brand’s EV push due to its competitive price, chief executive officer Klaus Zellmer said on Tuesday (Oct 1).
Drivers in Europe have baulked at the high cost of EVs from Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault after countries including Germany scrapped subsidies. The move has left an opening for Chinese brands, led by BYD, to grab market share with their less expensive models.
Skoda has emerged as a bright spot at Volkswagen. The brand, which produces in low-cost countries including the Czech Republic and China, saw its European sales rise about 9 per cent this year to August. That’s in stark contrast to the demand issues at the namesake VW brand, which is weighing job cuts and unprecedented factory closures in Germany to become more competitive.
The Elroq could help buoy sales in Europe. It comes with a rear-view camera, a 13-inch infotainment screen and a digital voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. The model is priced well below VW’s ID.4 electric SUV, which starts at around 48,000 euros, and also undercuts BYD’s Atto 3 which costs about 38,000 euros.
The longest-range Elroq can drive more than 560 kilometres on a single charge – that’s more than Tesla’s Model Y. Customers can order the model from Wednesday, with deliveries due to start in the first quarter of 2025. BLOOMBERG
