I am a Skoda Sales Executive and this has been passed to us directly from the Czhech Republic...

Read it very carefully. It outlines skoda's new 10 year growth strategy. Although all is not as it seems.

Can they really be basing the growth of our beloved brand based on something akin to an iron eating fungus !!!

The report was issued in front of several hundred Skoda managers from all over the world by Škoda Auto’s new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Professor Dr Winfried Vahland. if you get bored with the initial blurb the worrying bit is under the boldly titled Growth and Strategy at heart of plans.....Enjoy

The Skoda "RS" Growth Strategy.....

Dr Vahland announced the new Škoda RS plan, which aims to double the number of cars the company sells worldwide by 2020.

Stressing that Škoda is one of the pillars of the Volkswagen Group, Dr Vahland said the brand’s aim was to become even bigger. “I am proud of the achievements Škoda has made over the past 20 years,” he said. “Nonetheless… we must not content ourselves with the achieved results

“We have all the potential for a big step forward. Škoda is strong, we are part of the world’s most successful automotive group, markets are recovering worldwide, the crisis seems to be over and we are experiencing a boom in some markets that would until recently have been unimaginable.

Let’s make full use of this potential to move Škoda forward and let’s set challenging goals together.

I know we are up to it. I know we are a strong, fast and inventive team that comes up with surprising, unconventional solutions again and again. We are ‘Simply Clever’ and I am looking forward to co-operating with you

'Growth' and 'strategy' at heart of plans

The RS mark is used for Škoda’s most dynamic and emotional products, which is why the letters have been chosen for the company’s growth strategy as well as for our rally sport. In this usage, the R stands for the word ‘růst’ – Czech for ‘growth’ – and S for the word ‘strategie’ (‘strategy’).

Key points of the growth strategy:

Accelerate growth. We want to at least double the sales of Škoda vehicles over the next 10 years

Reinforce our presence in markets that offer a good potential for growth

Extend our product portfolio (in the right places) to enter new segments

Grow profitably

I like the plan, but for the UK market... rust isn't the best publicity for the brand after all the old jokes etc!! however...im sure its only a couple of countries where skoda sells their cars that have english as their first language

This is a joke right?

Rust.. why not just call the plan Alfa Sud or Rover SD1 and be done with it

Skoda is one of the pillars of VW with rust in its support

must be something to do with the uk having the letter V, VRS very rusty skoda lol

Skoda is one of the pillars of VW with rust in its support

If you have the accent over the U then it means growth, otherwise it means rust. I suspect a rethink along the lines of changing Marathon to Snickers and other product renaming so as not to offend or confuse in certain markets.

Edited 18 April, 201115 yr by hertsnminds

If you have the accent over the U then it means growth, otherwise it means rust. I suspect a rethink along the lines of changing Marathon to Snickers and other product renaming so as not to offend or confuse in certain markets.

Like Toyotas re-naming of the MR-2 in france - afterall, who wants a car called 'emerdeux' when it sounds just the same as merde, the french word for $hit!

VW have already started with the "rust" policy by removing the heavy PVC coatings on the inner wings and underbody , leaving big gaps in the wheel arch liners, reducing the amount of hot wax fill in the body cavities, leaving off sealant on body seam joints and replacing the "dip" body galvanising with the electro plated sheet steel panels that leave the edges with no zinc plating. These are just a few of the VW cost reductions that reduce the body long term life. The new body life may be just over 10 years to satisfy the warranty but will not as good as the previous models with these features.

In 10 years I doubt Skoda could double the sales of vehicles. Not unless there is a substantial discount bringing them down to compete at the bottom end of the market with the likes of Hyundai's prices - which would be a strategic mistake IMO.

In 10 years I doubt Skoda could double the sales of vehicles. Not unless there is a substantial discount bringing them down to compete at the bottom end of the market with the likes of Hyundai's prices - which would be a strategic mistake IMO.

as you dont think it would benifical, TBH i think the prices sit right atm, bearing in mind most of the skoda range takes its chassis engines and drive train from VW.

What will hope skoda is people are finally starting to realise that skodas are as good as any VW just little cheaper.

I thing mordern skoda are good value for money, but thats jus my opinion

The one thing that really struck me when I got my new Roomster Facelift home and having the time and leisure for a good hoak around was discovering that the under bonnet had been primed but not top-coated.... cost cutting strategy?

hey, don't knock it, rust is lighter than Carbon Fibre, and as Colin Chapman said 'simplify and add lightness'

hey, don't knock it, rust is lighter than Carbon Fibre, and as Colin Chapman said 'simplify and add lightness'

And don't forget the Trabant; roof, bootlid, bonnet, bumpers and doors in recycled plastic (sort of).

And don't forget the Trabant; roof, bootlid, bonnet, bumpers and doors in recycled plastic (sort of).

Citroen did similar with the AX and BX too from what I recall.

Citroen did similar with the AX and BX too from what I recall.

Yep, the citroen ones (BX bonnet at least) were fiberous and plastic.

Renault did the front wings out of the first megane and the mini MPV version from flexible plastic.

It actually helped with the fact that they would flex and bounce back if somebody lightly pressed into them.

Same for the Audi A2, plastic( bounce back) bonnet and wings

But not the Maestro and Montego body colour "4kph impact resistant" bumpers that used to give the trolley-boys at Sainsburys something the same colour as their customers´cars but in a million bits to sweep up.

 

My previously impeccable forest green Mk1 has now been riddled with mini-dinges and small digs as a result of ending its time as the inter-city cruiser and beginning its life as the inner-city shopper.

 

If you want to keep your car panels and paintwork good, drive it a lot and don´t take it to Tesco!