Skoda Octavia to be all-electric soon: India launch expected in 2023

The SSP born-electric platform will serve as the foundation for the Skoda Octavia EV. The Octavia RS iv plug-in hybrid is most likely to arrive in India sometime next year.

Skoda has begun work on an all-electric Octavia sedan that will join the brand’s already expanding EV line-up that also has models like the India-bound Enyaq. The combustion-engined Octavia is due a mid-life update that will debut in 2024.

VW's SSP Architecture to be adopted by Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia electric vehicle is scheduled to make its debut later this decade as the Czech automaker quickly expands its EV lineup. By 2030, Skoda hopes that sales of electric vehicles would account for 70% of its income. The electric Octavia will join a seven-seat electric SUV (previewed by the recently unveiled Vision 7S concept), a city EV, a crossover, and a mini-SUV that will replace the current-generation Skoda Fabia when it goes on sale in 2026.

There have been discussions of keeping the combustion-engined Octavia for select international markets, and this model would stay on the present platform. The Volkswagen Group would transition the all-electric Octavia to its EV-only platform.Given that the electric Octavia won't be released until later in the decade, it is likely that it will forgo the MEB architecture, which is currently used for popular vehicles like the Volkswagen ID 3 and Volkswagen ID 4, and instead use the SSP architecture, which will be introduced by the VW Group in 2025.

In keeping with Skoda's newly announced 'Modern Solid' design language overhaul, which focuses on SUV-type aesthetics, the electric Octavia is anticipated to have a more robust appearance than the present model.

Skoda Octavia Battery, Powertrain & Range

The Octavia EV is anticipated to employ a more sophisticated version of Skoda's new 89kWh battery, which is scheduled to launch in 2024 or 2025 and will have a WLTP range of more than 595km and a charging rate of up to 200kW, making it far faster than any current mainstream VW Group EV. This battery should be able to run the normal car's two front motors and any more powerful vRS variations' four motors (one on each wheel).

Skoda Octavia India Plans

Due to the impending RDE (Real Driving Emission) requirements, the current-generation Octavia may be discontinued in India sometime in 2019. However, Skoda India is set to release the Octavia RS iV with plug-in hybrid technology in a small batch later in 2019.