Skoda Fabia News

Facing intense competition from emerging Chinese brands, the impact of US tariffs and increased manufacturing costs in Europe, the Volkswagen Group’s current financial trauma is well documented with a minimum cut of 50,000 jobs (likely 100,000) by 2030 and closure of four production plants in Germany already flagged.And now, as part of its Future Plan presentation, the Group’s executive board has said, “The (group) model lineup will be gradually concentrated on the most attractive market segments and streamlined by up to 50 percent; offering complexity will be reduced by up to 75 percent.”Which means key models currently sold by brands including Audi, Cupra, Skoda, Porsche and VW are set for early discontinuation, the latest by 2030, with the number of available options slashed by three quarters and annual production capacity dropping from 10 to nine million vehicles.Question is, which models are headed for the chop first and German publication Bild believes it has the inside scoop with a "concrete list” of 10 cars headed for extinction.Here’s the Bild VW Group product hit list.Audi: The Q5 Sportback and Q6 e-tron Sportback are unlikely to be replaced. And interestingly, even though the Porsche Taycan is marked for extinction (see below) its Audi e-tron GT twin under the skin isn’t.Cupra: The list marks the Cupra Raval (which hasn't even launched in Australia yet) as headed for the exit after a single generation.Porsche: In unsurprising news the underperforming Taycan is set to retire after the current model reaches the end of the road and the internal-combustion (ICE) Cayenne Coupe is gawn.Sadly for sports car devotees Bild’s mail is that even though Porsche’s ‘strategic realignment’ from late last year pointed to internal combustion power for flagship versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, that plan is kaput with the roadster and coupe again lining up as EV only.Skoda: The Bild report puts the Skoda Fabia small car on the chopping block, although there’s no mention of its closely-related Seat Ibiza and VW Polo siblings.Volkswagen: The Jetta compact sedan, now primarily sold in North America, and the Taos crossover-style SUV, currently offered in global markets including North America, South America and Russia (and marketed as the Tharu in China) look unlikely to make a next-gen iteration.No mention of Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini or Seat although Bentley has already shelved its plan to go pure-electric by 2035 and Lambo’s put production of its first EV firmly on the back burner.Bild estimates VW Group savings of up to €6.5 billion (~$10.7 billion) by 2031 by finishing up these 10 cars but even that’s far from a 50 per cent reduction in the across-the-board model count.Stay tuned for more VW Group model obituaries surely coming soon.

One of Europe’s cheapest small cars will live on in Australia – for now. While the Skoda Scala’s future hangs in the balance due to shifting buyer preferences, plunging sales and a new-model onslaught that includes value EVs like the coming Epiq, its Fabia kid brother is treading just enough water to justify continuing importation.

The little Yugo hatchback made by now long-gone Serbian brand Zastava Automobili appears to be making a return to a market that's increasingly being dominated by new Chinese brands, and in another twist, it won't be electric.Made from 1980 to 2008 the Yugo was popular in the United States, India, Egypt and Eastern Europe. The little car was also sold in Australia before Zastava Automobili ended operations.The Yugo brand, however, has been bought by German university professor, Dr Alexander Bjelic, who plans to resurrect the small hatch that's yet to be named.While a production version is still far off, Dr Bjelic used the recent 2025 Munich Car Design Event to show off a concept version. The catch is, it's a tiny scale model in a plastic box for now with Dr Bjelic aiming to have a full-size prototype ready for the 2027 Belgrade Expo. The model shows off the little hatch’s retro-cool looks with a modern twist on the Yugo hatch. The futuristic looks may be reminiscent of a tiny version of Hyundai's Ioniq 5 electric SUV, but Yugo says its upcoming car will be powered by an internal combustion engine. The brand said an electric variant may also become available at a later point.The original Yugo hatch was known for its affordability but had a poor reputation for reliability and build quality. While the car was sold in Australia along with 76 other countries, it's uncertain whether the resurrected version will be sold in Australia.If the Yugo hatch did make it Down Under it would be up against fierce tiny rivals such as Volkswagen's Polo, the Skoda Fabia, Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, MG3 and Mazda2.Still, if Yugo can price the car lower than its competitors and arrive with a design that looks as good as the concept then it could be onto a winner. 

The Skoda Fabia is the latest vehicle in the Czech brand’s range to score a more affordable variant.The brand copped some flak for having only the circa-$38,990 drive-away fully-loaded Fabia Monte Carlo on sale in Australia.Now it has introduced the Fabia Select, which is priced at $31,990 drive-away.The Fabia now slips in underneath its twin under-the-skin, the Volkswagen Polo.It puts it in the same ballpark as the smaller Mazda2 and the more fuel efficient but not as well equipped Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport Hybrid.The Fabia is powered by a three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 85kW and 200Nm matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto driving the front wheels.Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing Kieran Merrigan says the Fabia combines strong value for money and a high level of equipment.“The Fabia continues with the enormous boot and generous legroom that surpasses some vehicles from the next class up,” said Merrigan.Skoda’s global boss Klaus Zellmer foreshadowed the recently added cheaper variants. He said last year at the Munich motor show the brand had “homework to do” on its Australian pricing, especially when it came to the Fabia.Since then Skoda Australia has brought in a new entry-level $32,990 drive-away Kamiq small SUV and new $39,990 drive-away Karoq mid-size SUV.Fabia Select buyers can expect 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and back and power folding side mirrors.Inside there is an 8.25-inch multimedia screen paired with an 8.0-inch digital driver display. This is complemented by a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and manually adjustable cloth wrapped seats.There is a wide array of safety tech included such as blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert that sounds the alarm if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse.The Fabia Select is backed by Skoda’s seven-year/unlimited km warranty and will land in showrooms from August.

Skoda’s most popular models have had their prices increased for 2023 in a range adjustment that coincides with pricing changes made by many brands at the beginning of 2023.

The ongoing supply issues that have hobbled Skoda's sales in Australia are set to ease soon, with the company's local leader predicting an end to the global semiconductor shortage.While the parts shortages and supply chain issues have impacted most manufa

If you were shocked by the high pricing of the new-generation Skoda Fabia, then we have some good news.A cheaper version of the Toyota Yaris rival will almost certainly be added to the range, making the Fabia more competitive.Skoda Australia shocked obser

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have noticed the cost of small cars has been on a steady rise in recent years. Skoda made headlines recently when the price of its Fabia city car effectively leaped up almost $20,000, with a new starting price of $36,990 before on-road costs - which is the same price as a Volkswagen Golf 110TSI Life.

When Skoda arrived in Australia (most recently) in 2007 it was meant to be a cheaper alternative to a Volkswagen brand that was moving upmarket. As Volkswagen moved up to be a ‘semi-premium’ brand and steal sales from more-established European premium brands, Skoda would do battle with the likes of Toyota, Hyundai and Mazda.

Episode 239 - New models incoming!