Skoda Set to Revolutionize Australian Roads with New Connected Services

Skoda Delays Launch of Connected Services in Australia

Skoda has announced that it will not be launching connected services in Australia this year. However, the local CEO, Lucie Kuhn, assures that the technology is not far off and that they are making significant progress towards its implementation.

Ms. Kuhn stated in an interview with CarExpert in Queenstown, New Zealand, “We are getting closer, significantly closer. We are heading there, we are simply finalizing its development. It won’t be in a week or two, but I hope the next time we talk… I can finally give you a date. Not this year.”

Despite Skoda’s delay in launching connected services, the Volkswagen Group has faced challenges in implementing factory-backed connected services in Australia, especially among its mass-market brands. Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini are the only brands offering proper inbuilt connectivity in Australia.

This delay has meant that Skoda owners have been missing out on features offered by competitors, such as satellite navigation with live routing, traffic updates, digital key functionality, emergency call functions, over-the-air software updates, and proper app functionality.

Last year, Volkswagen Australia introduced a third-party solution called Goconnect to provide some connectivity features to owners in the absence of proprietary services.

Meanwhile, other major brands like Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and Tesla offer extensive factory-backed connected services in Australia, leaving Volkswagen Group brands lagging behind in this aspect.

Cupra, a Volkswagen Group brand, has confirmed that it will be among the first to offer factory-backed connectivity and remote services in Australia. However, the timeline for the introduction of these features remains uncertain.

Skoda’s connected services suite, known as Skoda Connect in Europe, offers owners greater control over the vehicle’s voice control system, access to live traffic updates, map programming, and weather reports.

For Australian Skoda buyers, these features are currently unavailable, but the latest statements from the brand suggest that the wait may soon be over.

It remains to be seen whether Cupra’s connected services will debut before or after Skoda’s, but both brands are working towards establishing factory-backed connected services in Australia to better compete with rivals.

Overall, the delay in launching connected services in Australia highlights the challenges faced by automakers in introducing advanced technology to the local market. However, with ongoing efforts from brands like Skoda and Cupra, Australian car buyers can look forward to enhanced connectivity features in the near future.

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