Skoda is targeting blue light fleets with its latest Octavia, due for launch next year.
Speaking to BusinessCar, Vicky Magill product manager at Skoda UK, said: “The [next-generation] Octavia is going to be good for fleet in that we’ve involved the fleet guys in every stage [of UK market development]. It’s going to be very appropriate for the emergency services, meeting all their needs.”
In addition to the new Octavia, which will also spawn estate, performance vRS and previously unannounced off-road Scout variants, the upper medium Superb and the Yeti crossover are also due for updates.
Magill said: “Within the next 18 months there will be a Superb facelift, and a Yeti facelift within the next couple of years.”
This is part of a product offensive that sees the company launching a new model every six months, starting with the Citigo earlier this year, with the intention of increasing international sales by 50% to 1.5 million by 2018.
Magill also said that the firm had seen an increase in SME business as a result of its Fit for Fleet programme, launched under former MD Robert Hazelwood and announced by BusinessCar in February: “From the dealers that have joined the programme, small business has increased.”
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