Skoda postpones ASEAN plans, prefer to wait it out
Volkswagen’s Skoda marque had planned to enter the ASEAN market sometime soon but has postponed its plans and instead plans to play a waiting game to see through the current crisis. Skoda chairman Reinhard Jung says the downturn will force a consolidation process in the region and the market will need at least a year to correct itself before it can be seen which players will remain in the game.
Skoda could likely enter the ASEAN region via the FTA between ASEAN and India, which some companies like Hyundai Sime Darby have already taken advantage of. The Hyundai i10 that we get here is locally assembled via CKD packs from India. Skoda and Volkswagen just opened a plant in Pune with a capacity of 110,000 vehicles a year.
Malaysia already has a Skoda distributor, Quasar Carriage’s AutoPraha Sdn Bhd under the Berjaya Group. Read our old Skoda Fabia 1.4 Test Drive Review from 2006. That particular unit has been replaced by a new Fabia (shown above) now of course, which will also be built at VW’s Pune plant.
March 23, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
i’ve driven the latest skoda pictured above. the manual transmission. power is good. it’s very responsive and reaching up to 150 is a breeze! trust me.the rpm was at 3500 though, but there was not much vibration and the tyre-sound (if that’s what it’s caled.LOL) was hardly noticed. eventhough it was on winter tyre! the space is more like a myvi. i love it! wish i can own one. the looks.. hmm.. hate it or love it! lol
March 23, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
it looks like suzuki swift ..
March 24, 2009 @ 1:26 am
[quote comment="223746"]it looks like suzuki swift ..[/quote]
betol2..
March 24, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Swift? IMHO, the front end looks like my Kelisa…:)
March 24, 2009 @ 8:54 am
Looks like Swift + Kelisa 2nd Gen + Myvi 2nd Gen Fog Lamp
March 24, 2009 @ 10:02 am
definitely better than myvi….myvi sucks like hell
March 24, 2009 @ 10:08 am
good move skoda, at this time, the more u spand, the worse u will get!
March 24, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
just wanna ask u guys… how come theres so many skodas in times square parking lot?
March 24, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
Probably something to do with Berjaya doing both Times Square and Skoda.
March 24, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
I feel that VAG really need to speed up their plan in Asia if they really want to beat Toyota by 2018… Asia is such a big piece of biscuit and VAG must really grab it. While Skoda is quite an ideal brand for Asia because Skodas are relatively cheaper than a VW thus more competitive.
March 24, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
[quote comment="223926"]I feel that VAG really need to speed up their plan in Asia if they really want to beat Toyota by 2018… Asia is such a big piece of biscuit and VAG must really grab it. While Skoda is quite an ideal brand for Asia because Skodas are relatively cheaper than a VW thus more competitive.[/quote]
Asia ? VW is the Number 1 Manufacturer in China…
March 24, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
[quote comment="223917"]just wanna ask u guys… how come theres so many skodas in times square parking lot?[/quote]
It’s because Bejaya Group is using Skoda as their company car for Managers above and starting from the Fabia.
March 24, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
definitely a rip off from Swift!!
March 24, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
[quote comment="223917"]just wanna ask u guys… how come theres so many skodas in times square parking lot?[/quote]
All the unsold Skodas are sold to Berjaya companies as company cars. Since most of them are headquartered either in Times Square or across the road at Nagaria (don’t know the new name), you will see tonnes of Skodas in both buildings’ car parks.
March 24, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Agreed… its look like Suzy Swift….
Exterior wise, I think Swift definitely better than this Fabia,,
But, for the interior.. I’m not so sure since Swift is not that great inside… Though I can say that Swift handling is superb if not that perfect….
March 24, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
ya , the skoda showrrom is jus oposit times square…
March 25, 2009 @ 12:25 am
Thank god. Skoda cars are unreliable and looks cacat.
The only OK skoda is the new Superb. My neighbour’s son has a fabia, automatic transmission jammed, glove box rattling, and loose door fittings. I mean, VW is not making good quality inspections for the fabia.
March 25, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
[quote comment="223937"][quote comment="223926"]I feel that VAG really need to speed up their plan in Asia if they really want to beat Toyota by 2018… Asia is such a big piece of biscuit and VAG must really grab it. While Skoda is quite an ideal brand for Asia because Skodas are relatively cheaper than a VW thus more competitive.[/quote]
Asia ? VW is the Number 1 Manufacturer in China…
[/quote]
yups.. especially if you also count all the taxis based on “old” VW santana from the 80’s, still being built today in china.