Czech automaker Škoda is reportedly developing an electric version of its best-selling Octavia. It is expected to go on sale later this decade and join four other new Škoda EVs.
Škoda CEO Klaus Zellmer spoke to UK outlet Autocar late last week and confirmed that development of an electric Škoda Octavia was already underway.
According to Zellmer, the development of an electric Octavia will precede a potential ban on all ICE car sales in Europe by 2035.
But in an effort to rapidly built out a fuller EV line-up, the promised electric Octavia will join a seven-seat electric SUV (recently previewed by the Vision 7S concept), an urban EV, and a crossover – each of which is due by 2026 – and a replacement for the mini-SUV Škoda Fabia.
Zellmer refused to rule out an immediate end to an ICE Octavia. If Volkswagen are to make an electric Octavia, it will build it on the Volkswagen Group’s electric-only platform, which would require two production lines.
Before we see an electric Octavia, however, Škoda plans to refresh its current ICE and plug-in hybrid Octavia variants. These will make their way to showrooms in 2024.
Octavia likely to be built on VW’s new SSP architecture
Autocar says that, as it is not due until later in the decade, the Octavia may be one of the first EV models to adopt the group’s SSP architecture. Volkswagen will launch the all-electric SSP architecture this in 2025. This will replace the current MEB architecture it uses for cars such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4.
The electric Octavia will also undergo a slight design change. This could see a more rugged look in keeping with Škoda’s recently announced ‘Modern Solid’ design language reboot.
Autocar also reports that the Octavia EV would use a more advanced version of the company’s new 89kWh battery. This is due in 2024/25 with a WLTP range of over 600 kilometres and a charging rate of up to 200kW.
Further, the new battery would power two front motors on the standard electric Octavia and four motors on any sportier vRS variants of the car.
“The Octavia is rock solid,” Zellmer told Autocar, describing what the Octavia means to Škoda. “It has got its customer base and we are market leaders for the [estate] segment. Never change a winning team.
“I think that car is Skoda [through and through], but when you look at the future position [of the brand] and we talk about Modern Solid as attributes to our design language, yes, this will be more cars that are in the market to go off road, to accommodate more people, to have a bit more of a bold appearance, but we need to do both – [this and the Octavia].
“It is really important for our brand to stay true to our values and to our heritage.”
“We want to bring some surprises to the market,” Zellmer concluded. He also hinted at an Octavia variant with higher ground clearance and designed for light off-road use.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.