The Skoda Superb may not survive Volkswagen Group’s sweeping plans to cut its model range, despite the large sedan and wagon continuing to sell well in Europe. Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer has indicated that the brand’s strong sales performance does not necessarily protect every model from future cuts, as the wider Volkswagen Group looks to simplify its sprawling product portfolio.
Speaking to Autocar, Mr Zellmer said the future of the Superb was “not a given” when asked whether its sales success and profitability would keep it safe. Nothing has been confirmed, and the current fourth-generation Skoda Superb is not going anywhere just yet. However, the comments offer the clearest indication yet that the brand could eventually consolidate its passenger car range as it shifts towards an electric future.
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Volkswagen plans to cut model complexity
Volkswagen Group has approved plans to significantly simplify its model range, with the German automotive giant aiming to halve the number of models it offers and reduce variant complexity by 75 per cent by 2035. The changes could have implications across the group’s brands, including Skoda, which currently offers its largest-ever range of vehicles.
Skoda sells 11 models in Europe, but Mr Zellmer has made no secret of where the brand is heading, saying he has “no doubt” that the end game is electric. Some models could disappear naturally as electric vehicles replace similarly sized petrol and diesel cars. For Skoda, the bigger question appears to be whether it needs separate electric successors for both the Octavia and Superb. That is particularly relevant as demand for traditional sedans and wagons continues to fall while SUVs dominate the market.
Could a larger Octavia replace the Skoda Superb?
Skoda currently offers just two conventional passenger car nameplates: the Octavia and Superb. While the Octavia sits in the smaller segment, it remains Skoda’s best-selling model. The company sold 186,141 examples in 2025, despite sales falling 12.8 per cent compared with the previous year.
The Superb is much lower-volume but still recorded growth, with sales increasing 3.9 per cent to 75,551 vehicles last year. However, the broader market for large mainstream sedans and wagons has shrunk considerably. Many buyers have moved to SUVs, while those still wanting a conventional sedan increasingly look towards premium brands. Skoda is now considering whether its next-generation Octavia could potentially cover a broader section of the market.
The next all-new Octavia is expected to use Volkswagen Group’s delayed SSP electric vehicle architecture. Mr Zellmer has said the platform has enough flexibility to underpin a vehicle as large as the Superb.
He also suggested Skoda is debating whether it still needs the “full monty” of separate models, or whether there is a smarter way to serve both customer groups. That could mean a future electric Octavia grows in size and potentially takes over some of the roles currently filled by the Superb, though Skoda has not confirmed any such plan.
What does this mean for Australia?
The Skoda Superb has a niche but important place in Australia, particularly for buyers who still want the space and driving dynamics of a large passenger car rather than an SUV. The Superb’s spacious cabin, practical wagon body and close relationship with the Volkswagen Passat have helped it remain one of the few mainstream options of its type.
Its future, however, will ultimately depend on Skoda’s wider global product strategy. The current fourth-generation Superb only debuted in 2023, meaning there is no immediate reason to expect the model to disappear. The Octavia, meanwhile, has been around since late 2019 and is likely to reach its next-generation form first.
The two nameplates could therefore face a significant overlap when Skoda begins replacing its combustion-powered passenger cars with electric alternatives. The Superb has been part of Skoda’s range since 2001 and is now in its fourth generation. It has always shared a close relationship with the Volkswagen Passat, and the latest models are more closely related than ever.
For now, the Superb remains part of Skoda’s line-up. But as Volkswagen Group cuts costs, reduces complexity and moves towards electric vehicles, the future of one of Skoda’s longest-running nameplates appears less certain than it once was.
Source: Autocar UK
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