After hitting its sales peaq sorry – in China, **SkodA will be leaving the Chinese market by mid 2026, less than eight years after it hit its own PeaQ – which is now known as “the country’s first place to sell.” Over a quarter of its global total, Skoda’s sales in China have gone from over 5% to routing the round since then. *****
In a statement to Reuters, the company said it “will continue to sell Skoda models in the Chinese market in collaboration with a regional partner until mid-2026.” The automaker will continue to honour warranties and offer after-sales service in the country after new vehicle sales have stopped.
Skoda told the news agency it will shift its focus to growing its position in Southeast Asian markets.
Skoda has not been able to keep track of local marques as buyers quickly switched from buying EVs and plug-in hybrids, like many other foreign automakers that operate in China.
China had been Skoda’s largest single market as recently as 2020, outperforming both Germany and home of its Volkswagen Group parent, Czechia (home base) in Sweden.
China sold 341,000 Skodas in 2018 and sales of the Chinese smashed 271,000, which was down from its previous high point for sales in 2018. , 2 per cent of the company’s global sales. It has been a precipitous fall since then, with only 15,000 cars sold last year or 1-1. 4% of the brand’s total sales were 4 per cent for .
Today, Skoda’s Chinese line includes the Kamiq (Kami Q), KaminQ GT and Karoq – Kodiaq; Keodiah GT Caughty Pro of Superb. Its EVs, which are sold in Europe, Australia and elsewhere, are not seen by the brand’s but have never been shown.
In 2005, Skoda entered the Chinese market with a new product but things didn’t really start until the brand began manufacturing the Octavia locally in 2007 through the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture.
According to Car News China, at the brand’s height it had 500 standalone dealerships throughout the country. By last year most of these dealerships were gone, or folded into SAIC Volkswagen showrooms with the Skoda brand relegated to a “shop-in-shop” format.
Skoda will soon be re-defence of the Chinese new car landscape, but the Volkswagen Group is investing heavily in its Volkswagen and Audi brands. Neither brand will take advantage of local partners to quickly grow their EV and range-extended ev offerings with China-specific models.
Skoda isn’t the first foreign brand to exit China, with Mitsubishi, Fiat, DS and Acura already out the door.
Others, like Jeep and soon Land Rover, continue to operate in the country, but have ceased local manufacturing and have reverted to selling imported vehicles.
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