Let's see how Tesla go with some real competition: Skoda takes the gloves off in EV fight

Skoda Australia’s senior executives have put Tesla on notice as the brand reveals its plans for its electric vehicle onslaught with at least five new EVs touching down here by 2026.

Speaking at the local unveiling of the Enyaq SUV - Skoda’s first electric vehicle to come to Australia - company bosses told CarsGuide that while Tesla had done a lot in helping the public warm to EVs, Tesla’s domination was over as mainstream brands start launching their own electric vehicles en masse.

“Let’s see how Tesla go when they get some real competition,” a spokesperson for Skoda told CarsGuide.

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Skoda Australia’s managing director Michael Irmer agreed but acknowledged the work Tesla had done.

“I give Tesla credit for how far they’ve come… certainly Tesla was the catalyst for the whole industry, so it’s a good thing for everybody,” he said.

Australia has seen dozens of new electric cars arrive within just the past 12 months. Established brands such as BMW have released electric models such as the i4, iX3 and iX, Volvo has brought out its EX30, Lexus has launched the RZ, while brands like Kia have come to market with the EV6 and soon to arrive EV9 large SUV.

But the most ferocious players in the electric car game have been Chinese brands such as MG, BYD and GWM Haval, who have offered unbeatable prices into the new technology. 

The MG4 is being offered for $38,990 before on-road costs and the BYD Dolphin is $38,890, making them the most affordable electric cars in Australia.

Despite the fierce competition from the Chinese brands, Skoda Australia’s chief said it wasn’t them that told him that the time was right to release Skoda’s EV models immediately.

“It wasn’t so much the Chinese - I think it’s more Tesla,” he said. 

“We have responded to Tesla more so. Besides, there’s not much shopping between Chinese brands and Skoda, but I think Tesla definitely.

“So when we saw the Tesla figures last year coming up significantly that was seen as a sign that the market was ready.”

Tesla has experienced stratospheric popularity in Australia with its Model 3 hatchback and Model Y mid-sized SUV winning over Aussies with their minimalist, futuristic design and rapid acceleration.

In 2022 the Tesla Model 3 outsold the Toyota Camry with 10,877 sales. This year sales of the Model 3 up until the end of May and has already passed the 10,000 mark. 

The Tesla Model Y is also selling fast with 8442 sold so far this year.

Skoda believes, however, that Tesla's good run will come to an end as brands such as themselves and those within the same automotive group including Cupra, Audi and Volkswagen launch their EVs.

Skoda revealed its plans to CarsGuide showing us a graphic of five silhouetted EVs to come to Australia by 2026. All were SUVs, ranging in size from as small as a Skoda Kamiq and Karoq, right up to a large SUV similar to the Kodiaq.

The only silhouetted car in the graphic that was named was the Enyaq which will arrive first in 2024.

The Enyaq is a mid-sized electric SUV with an 82kWh battery and a range of up to 570km. CarsGuide believes Skoda will price the Enyaq close to the Model Y which it sees as its direct rival. With that in mind buyers can expect a list price of about $70,000.

Whether Skoda can beat Tesla at its own game remains to be seen, but what is certain there are many more players now and more such as Toyota and Nissan are about to join, too.