Skoda introduces cheaper servicing packages
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 11th Sep 2018
SKODA Australia has introduced cheaper three- and five-year servicing packages across its entire model line-up, priced from $760 and $1600 respectively, as the Czech brand eyes another year of sales growth.
Available to purchase with any new Skoda vehicle, the three-year/45,000km service package will now cost $760 on the Fabia light hatchback and Rapid small car, down from $1100.
Meanwhile, the Octavia mid-sizer and hi-po Octavia RS three-year service pricing is down from $1150 to $780 and $860 respectively.
Three years of servicing will cost Superb buyers $890 (down from $1300), Karoq small crossover customers $790 and Kodiaq mid-size SUV owners $950 (down from $1375).
As for the five-year/75,000km aftersales cover, Fabia, Rapid and Octavia models will now cost $1600, a drop from $2200-$2250.
Octavia RS five- year plans come down from $2700 to $1700, while the Karoq will cost $1650 for the same service coverage.
Although Skoda formerly asked for $2850 for Superb and Kodiaq five-year servicing plans, both models have been dropped to $2100.
Skoda’s servicing packages also includes items such as brake fluid changes and pollen filter replacements, in addition to the listed scheduled vehicle requirements.
Skoda Australia director Michael Irmer said the new scheme works to “dispel the outdated perception that cars from Europe are necessarily more expensive to own than those from Japan or Korea”.
“There is more value than recommended retail pricing,” he said. “In Australia, Skoda customers prefer higher specification variants and we have sought to make optioning up more accessible with value priced equipment packages.
“The value equation clearly extends to the after sale aspect of the Skoda ownership experience.”
All new Skoda vehicles sold come with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
Meanwhile, Mr Irmer also stated his intention to break the 6000 sales barrier for the first time in Australia this year.
Year to date, Skoda has accrued 4030 new registrations, a 15.1 per cent lift over the same period last year, putting it on track for a circa-6045 year-end tally.
The Octavia mid-size sedan and wagon account for the lion’s share of the brand’s volume with 1351 units sold, a 15.9 per cent lift year on year, while the Rapid is also 3.2 per cent up to 292 and the Kodiaq has swelled 251.9 per cent to 996 having launched last June.
However, the Superb (611) and Fabia (590) have slowed 11.3 and 27.5 per cent respectively, although the just-launched Karoq has amassed 190 sales since its arrival in June.
Mr Irmer said he was confident the Czech brand would hit a new high water mark by the end of the year.
“Despite exceptionally heavy restrictions on supply, sales in 2019 will exceed 6000 in Australia for the first time,” he said.
“(Skoda had) emerged from its niche and was becoming an increasingly mainstream choice.”
