Therefore, the small EV from Skoda will be more expensive than the VW ID2 All

During the festive unveiling of (finger exercises of) Skoda’s future electric range in Mladá Boleslav, the Czech home base of Skoda, we get a few minutes of speaking time with CEO Klaus Zellmer. So time for the big question:

You promise to price your most compact EV, provisionally called Small, around €25,000, but Volkswagen has already announced a price below that for its ID2 All. Admittedly not a crossover, but still: a lower threshold for new EV drivers.

“The ID2 All will be smaller than our model, which will be an SUV. That explains why the Volkswagen will be a bit cheaper.”

Still: until a few years ago you bought a new car for less than half and it is precisely Skoda that has a reputation to uphold with its no-nonsense policy. Can we therefore expect something under the already announced compact BEV?

“For the time being, the entry threshold will be 25,000 euros and yes, you are right, at the moment our Fabia starts around €15,000. But this is our first step into the lower price segment for EV drivers.”

Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer in conversation with AutoWeek.

So from possession to use as an alternative?

“Definitely. Alternative forms of mobility are part of our future strategy, with ideas such as subscriptions, pay per kilometer, car sharing: absolutely. We are working hard on that. This will play a crucial role in the current entry-level segment. People will come to us at a reasonable price mobility: when they need it and what they need.”

At the same time, we see that many EVs are becoming somewhat lower in model; high on the legs, but less in the carriage.

“At Skoda, this translates into the electric combi that we have announced. For us, the future lies in electric cars, because we have really written history in that segment with the Octavia and the Superb. That is why we want to attract an audience from those models for our electric cars.”

Skoda was once a newcomer, now it is an established brand. From that perspective, how do you view all these newcomers today, especially from China?

“We always respect competition. Looking at the EV lineup we just unveiled, I think we have a great range for our customers, with six all-electric models in 2026. We should always be proud and confident about the future. Competition only makes that more interesting.”

Does that also mean expansion to distant countries for Skoda?

“Certainly. At the moment we are targeting India and the Asian region. It is part of the strategy within the volume brands of the Volkswagen Group not to miss any opportunities anywhere, but at the moment our focus is on those two regions.”

Skoda’s future EV range in Haribo impression.