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Skoda aims for 2% share of fleet
Date: 23 June 2009 | Author: Tristan Young
Skoda is hoping a host of new products and initiatives will give it a 2% fleet market share, up from the current 1.5%.
Skoda will become a seven car brand by 2012, according to fleet boss Martin Burke. New models planned for introduction include a Superb estate, a city car based on the VW Up and a car to fit between the Roomster and Octavia.
Speaking at the launch of the Yeti small off-roader, Burke said: "The Superb estate will be called Tourer and will go up against Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and Volvo V70."
He added that it would go on sale in the UK in early 2010.
Alongside the new cars Skoda has also set up a programme to boost fleet sales through lease firms and dealers.
"We're going for 100-plus fleets this year, and our national sales team are driving business into the dealers.
"We're also working much closer with lease companies. We've got a Skoda 'Agency' of which 52 lease companies are onboard and 98 retailers.
"There are level one retailers, of which there are 40, that have agreed standards, such as a dedicated member of staff and certain service standards, and the other 58 retailers are on level two and broaden the geographical coverage.
"We're aiming to hit 9000 units through the Skoda Agency a year, and we're currently running at 3500. There's a lot of work to do with the lease firms, not just with their sales teams but we're also talking to their RV people as well."
A market share of 2% would put Skoda ahead of its sister firm Seat as well as brands such as Volvo, Fiat and Mazda.
Skoda is also now able to carry out limited-run paint colours for specific fleets such as the police or in a corporate colour.
