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Yeti gives Skoda another bite at fleet
Date: 24 June 2009 | Author: Tristan Young
Skoda's new Yeti will give the Czech brand another chance to approach fleets although business sales of the small off-roader are not expected to be high, according to fleet boss Martin Burke.
Skoda is predicting 3000-4000 Yeti sales a year with prices initially starting at just over £14,000. However, the UK Skoda brand director Robert Hazelwood hinted this start point could be reduced to just below £13,750 after the car has been on sale for a few months.
Commenting on the fleet prospects for the car that will go up against cars such as the Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Rav4, Burke said: "The fleet-retail split on the Yeti will be 70-30 in favour of retail.
"Where we will sell the Yeti in fleet is to user-choosers, NHS fleets and the emergency services.
"Bringing the Yeti in will build brand awareness within fleet again. It gives us another opportunity to knock on doors."
Burke explained the Skoda fleet split is 30% Superb, 60% Octavia and 10% the rest. He added: "We're looking for 'true fleet' business, not daily rental."
Burke said that an eco Greenline version of the Yeti will be added late next year, but declined to give emissions or engine details. However, BusinessCar expects the Yeti Greenline to be powered by the same 1.6-litre diesel that will be fitted to the Octavia Greenline due in the UK this Autumn with a CO2 output of 114g/km.
Answering criticism that the full specification and CO2 detail wasn't available for the standard Yeti range, Burke added: "The RV influencers saw the car two weeks ago and told us that if we can get the data to them before July then they would be able to get the car on contract hire choice lists in time for the launch in September."
