Skoda’s planned electric estate vehicle, initially slated for release in 2026, has been postponed to 2027 or 2028 due to a downturn in electric vehicle (EV) sales, according to CEO Klaus Zellmer. In an interview with Autocar, Zellmer indicated that the company would prioritize the introduction of smaller combustion engine models in the interim.
Zellmer remarked, “To be totally honest, with the slowdown of the transformation into battery-electric vehicles, we’re revisiting that [timeline]. We’re checking the sequence of those cars.” This shift reflects a broader reevaluation of Skoda’s electrification strategy, which was outlined in April 2023. The plan included the unveiling of the Elroq compact SUV in 2024 and revised versions of the Enyaq iV and Enyaq iV Coupé in 2025, alongside a new small electric vehicle, the Epiq, expected to have a base price of around 25,000 euros.
Despite the pushback of the electric estate, the timeline for a larger electric SUV, based on the Vision 7S concept, is still anticipated to be introduced in 2026. “The cadence now is we’ve had the Enyaq Coupé, the Elroq, the next one is the Epiq, and the next one down the line will be the SUV, the 7S you’ve seen the concept car of. After that – it could be 2027, 2028 – we’re aiming for an Octavia estate,” Zellmer stated.
While emphasizing the need for more variety in vehicle body shapes to stimulate electric car sales, Zellmer’s decision to delay the electric estate has raised questions about the logic behind this approach. He noted, “I’ve always said people always buy cars for the least probable cause they need them for,” referring to the practicality of estate cars for consumers with specific needs.
The CEO also addressed concerns regarding range anxiety, suggesting that it is often driven by emotional rather than rational considerations. “Who exceeds a range of 350 miles on a regular basis? And even if you do, you do one charging stop in between, get the car down to 30%, charge it back to 60%, it takes you 15 or less minutes and off you go,” he explained.
Furthermore, the delay in introducing the electric estate will affect Skoda’s combustion engine lineup, particularly the Fabia, Kamiq, and Scala models, which were initially slated for phase-out by 2027. Zellmer confirmed that these models have now been approved to remain in production until the end of the decade.
