Skoda Launches New iV Sub-Brand; Marks Entry Into The World Of Electric Vehicles

Skoda is writing a new chapter in its 124‑year history, as it enters the era of electromobility by launching its new iV sub‑brand. The Skoda iV covers both the development of the brand's own family of electrified products as well as a special ecosystem for mobility solutions. If you're wondering what ‘i' and ‘V' stand for, well Skoda explains it by saying that the ‘I' stands for innovative and intelligent; while the ‘V' stands for vehicle. As part of the company's 2025 Strategy, Skoda Auto will be investing a total of 2 billion euros in the development of electric vehicles and new mobility services over the next five years and this is the company's largest investment programme to date.

The Skoda iV cars will be developed on VW Group's MEB platform

Bernhard Maier, Skoda Auto, CEO, said, “The right time has now come for Skoda to enter the era of electromobility. We are now able to fulfil essential customer requirements: long ranges, quick charging and – particularly important for us here at Skoda – affordable prices. In addition to our successful petrol, diesel and CNG engines, the new drive systems will quickly become a relevant part of our range. We anticipate that they will make up around 25 per cent of total sales by 2025.”

As part of a double world premiere, Skoda presented the Citigo-e iV and the Superb iV plug‑in hybrid both of which according to the company offer quick charging, long ranges and affordable prices. In addition to the creation of an electrified model range, by establishing the new iV sub‑brand the manufacturer is also pressing ahead with the development of a holistic and connected E‑Mobility ecosystem. Amongst other things, this includes affordable wall boxes with different power outputs, which will allow customers to conveniently recharge their vehicles at home, and mobile online services offered via Skoda Connect that allows customers to benefit from services such as an intelligent charging station finder. In the future, this service will offer the option of reserving the customer's chosen charging station in advance.

The Skoda Superb iV and the Citigo iV were the first two cars to make their global debut

The first two all‑electric vehicles based on Volkswagen Group's MEB modular electric car platform will be introduced in 2020, one of which will be a production version of the VISION iV SUV coupé study. Skoda will produce its iV models and electric components for other Group brands in the Czech Republic. In addition to electric cars, the company's main plant in Mladá Boleslav will also manufacture electric components for plug-in hybrid models from several other Volkswagen Group brands from this year onwards. The company has already trained more than 11,000 employees in electric car production