Was the Skoda Felicia a missed opportunity when it came to selling in the US?
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Skoda tried to break into the US market with models such as the Felicia and Octavia. It took guts for an Eastern Bloc manufacturer to do this during the Cold War. But the venture was a relative failure, with only a few cars sold before Skoda pulled out of the US market. Considering the eventual improvement in Skoda's reputation under VW ownership, and the later success of other European brands in the US, one could be forgiven for thinking that this early attempt was just a little bit too early. If Skoda had stuck with it or tried again later with vehicles like the modern Felicia, could they have made a go of the US market?
A missed opportunity definitely. Americans have a soft spot for quirky European cars, as successful as the Beetle.
Nah, it’s too competitive in the US market. In fact, even established brands struggle there.
It was too early. They could have had a chance in the 90s, if they tried, with the VW-era Felicia.
Missed opportunity? They dodged a bullet! It is insane the costs of entering the US market.
They could have become Europe’s budget European brand, like Dacia is now.
The timing was all wrong. Because of Cold War tensions, it would have been nearly impossible to sell a Czech car in the US.
It's an interesting 'what if' but in the end they made the right call in focusing on Europe.
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Discussions and Questions Was The Skoda Felicia A Missed Opportunity When It Came To Selling In The Us
Was the Skoda Felicia a missed opportunity when it came to selling in the US?
06 January 2025 10:26
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