- Skoda Fabia, Kamiq, and Scala aren’t going away anytime soon.
- The current models could stick around until as late as 2034.
- The Fabia will get an electric successor given its popularity.
The Volkswagen Group is embarking on the “most strategically profound transformation” in their history as they’re preparing to eliminate 50,000 jobs, shutter multiple plants, and slash 50% of their lineup. The cuts will be steep and they could eventually result in the gradual phase out of the Seat brand.
Things are looking better at Skoda, but the brand won’t escape unscathed. Quite the opposite as several models are on the chopping block.
More: Seat Says They’re Not Dead, But Might Not Survive Either
Speaking to Autocar, Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said the Fabia, Kamiq, and Scala will continue to be made into the 2030s. However, they’re “going to fade out” eventually.
Interestingly, they might not be entirely dead as the executive revealed “we need replacements for those such as a battery-electric version of the Fabia.” This is somewhat surprising as earlier reports suggested the Fabia was a goner.
However, Zellmer noted the current Fabia still generates “very good demand.” That’s an understatement as the company sold around 61,900 units in the first half of the year. That was a 2.5% improvement from a year ago and it meant the Fabia was their fourth best-selling model behind the Octavia (96,500), Kodiaq (74,600), and Kamiq (65,400).
Zellmer went on to say the Fabia “needs to be replaced in our portfolio” as the company needs an affordable gateway for the brand. As he explained, “It’s like a staircase: you enter at a certain level, and if you increase the first step too far you won’t get anybody in your house. This is why we will have to find a battery-electric version of the Fabia.”
While it makes a lot of sense to keep the Fabia around, the Scala only found around 27,000 takers in the first half of the year. That meant it was the brand’s worst performer, aside from Indian-focused models such as the Kylaq, Kushaq, and Slavia.
While things are still in the planning phase, Zellmer suggested the current Fabia, Kamiq, and Scala could stick around as late as 2034. The ICE-powered models could then be phased out as part of the European Union’s shift to cleaner vehicles in 2035.
