Skoda on cheap Chinese EVs: “You get what you pay for”

Skoda has cautioned consumers against being swayed by cheap Chinese EVs, arguing that while the upfront price might look good, its new Elroq brings a level of research and engineering that budget competitors may lack.

According to Skoda Australia marketing and product boss Kieran Merrigan, a lot of the new Chinese EV entrants “have an attractive sticker price”, but cheap doesn’t necessarily mean cheerful.

“It frustrates us sometimes, but the amount of R&D that goes into our car… if I’m going to put my family and friends in a car, I’d rather the brand has done all the R&D, rather [than] be rushed to market… maybe there’s a few things skipped,” he told carsales at the recent launch of the Elroq SUV.

“You get what you pay for.”

That message comes as Chinese EVs continue to carve up the Australian market.

Brands like BYD and MG have posted rapid growth on the back of aggressive pricing, with the BYD Sealion 7 racking up more than 1400 sales in July alone – nearly five times Skoda’s entire monthly volume.

Even traditional heavyweights are struggling to keep pace. Hyundai executives recently admitted the company has done a “terrible job” with its electric vehicles, while Toyota has been widely criticised for dragging its heels on EV development.

Skoda, meantime, is positioning the Elroq as proof that a European driving experience can still come at an attainable price – from $54,990 plus ORCs – even if it’s not as cheap as a BYD.

While Chinese models are winning the volume game with their pricing, Skoda is betting that refinement, engineering effort and a 130-year legacy still count for something.

The Elroq has officially landed in Australian showrooms, with customer deliveries already underway.

Skoda is backing it with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle and eight-year/160,000 km high voltage battery warranty; pitched at buyers who want European quality and peace of mind, rather than simply chasing the cheapest deal.

As the EV race intensifies, Skoda’s message is clear: you might save upfront with a cut-price EV, but you won’t get the same engineering depth.

It’s a theme the brand plans to carry through its growing EV line-up, which will soon include the more affordable Epiq small SUV and the family-sized production version of the seven-seat Vision 7S concept, both of which are due in 2027.

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