Supply of three of Skoda’s four best-selling models are about to improve, after extended stock shortages and production slowdowns.
New batches of Skoda Octavia mid-size cars, Kamiq small SUVs and Karoq mid-size SUVs are en route to Australian showrooms, after years of production delays in the wake of COVID-19 and semiconductor shortages.
Skoda has confirmed new stocks of the Kamiq, Octavia and Karoq are available to order now, ahead of the arrival of the first examples soon “entering dealerships”.
The company is aiming to have stock of key models in the country for near-immediate delivery, depending on colour and variant – or if a customer wants a particular specification, wait times for custom orders of less than six months.
It follows consistent stock shortages since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago – and the war in Ukraine over the past 12 months – including recent shortages for the Octavia due to a lack of reversing cameras.
“Specification that may be optional elsewhere is expected by Australian customers. Select features are currently available as options and – thanks to Australia being prioritised as a high specification market – are fitted to the vast majority of our inbound stock,” Skoda director Michael Irmer said in a media statement.
“That’s an important step forward to give customers what they desire, and once possible they will become standard again. Customers continue to select vehicles with one if not two packages,” the executive said.
Prices for Skoda vehicles have risen steadily over the past two years, despite some features become unavailable due to production constraints, or reverted from standard to cost options.
The entry-level Skoda Kamiq 85TSI Style returned to the Australian model range last year after a 12-month hiatus with a price $7000 higher than when it left.
Analysis by Drive has found Skoda prices have increased on average by 22.9 per cent between January 2019 and 2023 – however most models have been significantly updated over this period to justify some of the price increases.
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