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Škoda Tops One Million Sales, Rises to Europe’s No. 3 Brand

If there’s a quiet achiever in Europe’s automotive landscape, it’s Škoda—and in 2025, the Czech brand decided to stop being so quiet about it. With 1,043,900 vehicles delivered worldwide, Škoda not only posted its strongest sales result in six years but also muscled its way into third place overall in Europe, its core market. That’s not a niche victory or a footnote win—that’s a podium finish in one of the world’s toughest automotive arenas.

Europe accounted for the lion’s share of the momentum, with 836,200 deliveries across the EU27+4 region, up nearly 10 percent year over year. Germany remained the brand’s anchor market, clearing 211,000 sales, while solid gains in the Czech Republic, the UK, Poland, and France reinforced Škoda’s reputation as a mainstream brand that’s finally being treated like one.

But the real story here isn’t just volume—it’s what Škoda is selling.

One in Four Comes with a Plug

Škoda’s sales surge is increasingly electrified. More than 25 percent of all vehicles delivered in Europe were either battery-electric or plug-in hybrids, a year-over-year increase that borders on explosive. That shift pushed Škoda to fourth place among Europe’s EV manufacturers, a remarkable achievement for a brand that, not long ago, was still seen primarily as the sensible cousin in the Volkswagen Group family.

Leading the charge is the Elroq, a compact electric SUV that finished 2025 as Europe’s second best-selling EV overall—and number one in markets like Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Škoda’s home turf. The larger Enyaq didn’t exactly loaf around either, landing seventh overall and cracking the top three in several EV-friendly countries. Combined, Škoda delivered nearly 175,000 BEVs in Europe alone, with global electrified deliveries more than doubling to 218,700 units.

In short: this isn’t a compliance-car strategy. It’s real demand.

Familiar Nameplates, Still Doing the Heavy Lifting

Even as electrification accelerates, Škoda hasn’t abandoned the formula that got it here. The Octavia remains the brand’s top seller worldwide, with over 190,000 deliveries in 2025 and a milestone moment—one million fourth-generation units sold since its 2020 launch. SUVs continue to dominate the supporting cast, with the Kodiaq, Kamiq, Fabia, and Karoq all posting six-figure results.

This balance—traditional internal-combustion stalwarts alongside credible EVs—is exactly what Škoda’s leadership means when it talks about “freedom of choice.” And judging by the numbers, customers agree.

India, ASEAN, and the Long Game

Škoda’s growth isn’t confined to Europe. India nearly doubled its deliveries to 70,600 vehicles, driven largely by the locally produced Kylaq SUV. Production expansion in Vietnam and entry into Saudi Arabia underline a strategy that’s less about flash and more about durable, region-specific growth.

Not every market cooperated—China continues to slide—but the broader picture points to a brand that’s diversifying its risk and widening its footprint at the right time.

What Comes Next

If 2025 was about validation, 2026 looks like escalation. Škoda will debut two new fully electric models: the Epiq, an urban crossover aimed squarely at affordability, and the Peaq, a seven-seat family SUV positioned as the brand’s electric flagship. Together, they’ll double Škoda’s EV portfolio and push the brand deeper into territory once dominated by more premium badges.

Škoda didn’t get here by reinventing the car. It got here by doing the basics extremely well—then electrifying them at exactly the right pace. In an industry obsessed with disruption, that might be the most disruptive strategy of all.

Source: Škoda

NEW CARS

Škoda Peaq: The Czech Brand’s Biggest Electric Swing Yet

Škoda has never been shy about building sensible cars for sensible people. But every so often, even the most pragmatic brand wants a flagship—something that says, yes, we still do spreadsheets, but we can dream a little too. Enter the Škoda Peaq, the Czech automaker’s upcoming electric, seven-seat SUV and, if all goes according to plan, its most ambitious model to date.

Confirmed for a full reveal this summer and scheduled to go on sale by the end of the year, the Peaq is the production version of the Vision 7S concept first shown in 2022. Back then, it looked like Škoda had let its designers drink an extra espresso and locked the accountants out of the room. Now, that concept is heading for showrooms—with only a modest trimming of its wilder edges.

Think of the Peaq as an electric Kodiaq. Big, upright, family-focused, and unapologetically practical—but powered entirely by electrons and positioned at the very top of Škoda’s lineup. In size and intent, it’s aimed squarely at the small but growing club of seven-seat electric SUVs, lining up against vehicles like the Peugeot e-5008 and Mercedes-Benz GLB. And while it’s not pretending to be a luxury status symbol, it will flirt with higher price territory than Škoda has ever dared before.

That alone makes the Peaq interesting.

A New Peak for Škoda

The name “Peaq” (yes, pronounced like peak) isn’t subtle. Škoda openly admits this is its range-topper, a statement car meant to showcase where the brand is headed in the electric era. According to Martin Jahn, Škoda’s board member for sales and marketing, the Peaq represents a deliberate elevation of the brand—without abandoning its core values.

“With the Vision 7S, we entered new territory for Škoda,” Jahn said, pointing to the company’s new “Modern Solid” design language. “Now we are bringing this innovative vehicle concept to life.”

Translation: this is Škoda trying to look bolder, tougher, and more future-facing—while still leaving enough room inside for kids, dogs, luggage, and that one IKEA run you definitely didn’t plan.

Design: Concept Car, But Make It Real

The Vision 7S introduced Škoda’s Modern Solid design language, which has since trickled down to newer models. Expect the Peaq to stick closely to the concept’s chunky proportions, squared-off shoulders, and clean surfacing. It won’t look soft or anonymous, and that’s a good thing. Seven-seat SUVs have a habit of blending into parking lots like beige wallpaper.

Underneath, the Peaq will ride on Volkswagen Group’s familiar MEB platform—the same architecture that underpins the Enyaq, Elroq, and a small army of VW Group EVs. That means proven hardware, flexible battery options, and packaging that prioritizes interior space over flashy performance numbers.

Don’t expect supercar acceleration or Nürburgring lap times. Do expect a flat floor, generous legroom, and a third row that actual humans can use without resentment.

Price: New Territory, Same Philosophy

Škoda hasn’t announced pricing yet, and Jahn carefully avoided pinning down an aspirational number. What we do know is that the Peaq will sit above the Enyaq, which currently starts just under £40,000. That alone pushes Škoda into a price bracket it hasn’t traditionally occupied.

Still, don’t expect EV9 or Volvo EX90 money. Škoda is betting that it can undercut more premium seven-seat EVs while offering comparable space and everyday usability. Jahn summed it up neatly: Škoda may not be the cheapest option, but it wants to be the best value for the money—just on “a different level than before.”

In other words, the Peaq won’t be cheap, but it should feel like you got more than you paid for. That’s very on-brand.

Why the Peaq Matters

Seven-seat EVs are still rare. Most electric SUVs stop at five seats, leaving larger families—or people who just like options—scrambling for alternatives. Škoda sees that gap as an opportunity, and the Peaq is designed to fill it with unapologetic practicality.

Jahn previously called the car Škoda’s “new highlight,” describing it as “beautiful from the outside, very practical from the inside.” That’s marketing speak, sure—but it also neatly summarizes what Škoda does best when it’s at the top of its game.

If the Peaq delivers on its promise, it won’t just be Škoda’s biggest and most expensive EV. It’ll be proof that the brand can move upmarket without losing its soul—and that family-focused electric cars don’t have to be dull, overpriced, or both.

The Peaq isn’t trying to be flashy. It’s trying to be smart. And in today’s crowded EV landscape, that might just be the boldest move Škoda could make.

Source: Škoda

CONCEPT CARS

A Retro Icon Recharged: Škoda 100 Reborn as a Modern Electric Limousine Concept

When the original Škoda 100 rolled out of Mladá Boleslav in 1969, it was the brand’s first true people’s car—affordable, modestly powered, and eventually a million-seller. But designer Martin Paclt, a veteran of Škoda’s exterior team, saw something more in its clean lines and easy-going silhouette. His reinterpretation of the 100 isn’t a nostalgia play or retro tribute. It’s a complete reframing of a Czech icon as a premium, electric, limousine-leaning sedan—with engineering decisions as bold as its styling.

A Familiar Shape, Upsized for the Future

Paclt’s early sketches weren’t anchored in the past as much as in current Škoda form language. “I drew from the proportions of the Superb,” he says, and the resulting concept naturally grew wider, longer, and more planted than the 1969 model. This was intentional: the 100’s timeless simplicity, he argues, resonates with Škoda’s present-day Modern Solid design approach.

Crucially, he avoided the obvious trap—retro mimicry. The concept carries over the essence of the original through stance and proportion rather than copy-pasted details. It remains a classic three-box sedan, but with broad, flowing surfaces, a confident posture, and the kind of visual elegance that the old 100 hinted at but never fully embodied.

The Original: A Million-Selling Everyman

Between 1969 and 1977, Škoda built 1,079,708 units of the 100/110 series. For a country where private-car ownership was rare, this rear-engine, rear-drive sedan became a national staple. Its 1.0- or 1.1-liter four-cylinder engines eked out 35 to 46 kW, depending on trim. But what truly cemented its popularity were its proportions, fold-flat seats, and simple yet upscale detailing.

Those visual hallmarks provided raw material for Paclt’s reinterpretation—but only as a starting point.

Honoring the Past With Modern Tech

Look closely at the new concept and the callbacks become clever rather than literal:

  • A four-element headlight signature replaces the original circular lamps.
  • A sculpted bonnet with a central crease carries the Škoda logo like a modern hood ornament.
  • Fine light strips front and rear reinterpret the old chrome trim and rear venting.
  • And the bold oval graphic—front and back—echoes a defining motif of the original 100.

But then Paclt’s design takes a decidedly unconventional turn.

The Car With No Rear Window

Yes, you read that correctly.

The original 100’s front and rear glass were nearly interchangeable. Paclt seized on that quirk and flipped the idea: what if the rear glass disappeared entirely?

The result is a striking, sculptural rear end where body panels mirror the form language of the front. It’s dramatic, rule-breaking, and guaranteed to split opinions. Which, Paclt says, is the point. “Design should evoke emotions.”

This decision also opened the door for technical creativity. With no window to occupy the upper rear section, Paclt integrated a roof-level fresh-air intake, assisted by subtle vents in the fenders. This feeds cooling air to the rear-mounted electric drivetrain—another nod to the 1969 car’s rear-engine layout.

Everything in the Back—Again

Paclt preserved the spirit of the original 100’s mechanical layout but repackaged it for the EV era. The electric motor and key components sit behind the cabin, enabling:

  • Rear-wheel drive, which he openly admits he enjoys;
  • A pushed-forward front axle for a short overhang and dynamic stance;
  • A primary front trunk, supplemented by a small upper storage area over the rear drivetrain.

It’s a smart blend of nostalgia, practicality, and EV packaging.

Designed From Scratch, With Pencil First

For a designer whose specialty is headlamps, crafting a full concept car was a rare opportunity. Paclt began with fast pencil sketches—his preferred method for testing ideas quickly. Once the theme clicked, he refined it and built a 3D model atop the current Superb’s vehicle package, adjusting width and track to create a properly grounded, premium presence.

His decade-plus at Škoda includes work on the Enyaq, Karoq, Kamiq, Kodiaq, and concept studies such as Vision X, Vision 7S, and the recent Vision O. The 100 reinterpretation let him step beyond lighting and into full-body form, a shift he hopes to pursue more in the future.

A Czech Classic Reimagined for the EV Age

The result is a confident, modern, and unmistakably Škoda reinterpretation—one that respects the 100’s history while daring to break conventions, including abandoning the rear window entirely. It’s not a production preview, but it’s a thoughtful exploration of how heritage models can inspire something fresh rather than simply nostalgic.

If Škoda ever green-lit a futuristic, limousine-like EV with rear-mounted power and a design philosophy driven by purity over ornamentation, this is the blueprint.

Source: Škoda