02:06 19-11-2025

Skoda’s Saudi Arabia launch with SAMACO Motors: lineup and timeline

Despite years of speculation about a possible U.S. debut, Skoda is once again steering clear of America and placing its bet on the Middle East. The brand has officially launched in Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest car market, which is forecast to reach one million vehicle sales by 2030. Given that backdrop, the move reads like a calculated step rather than a detour.

To establish operations in the country, Skoda has teamed up with SAMACO Motors, a Volkswagen Group division that also represents Audi, VW, Porsche and, more recently, Bentley and Lamborghini. Customers are being promised a fully digital experience built around video walls, interactive panels and modern showrooms—an approach that fits neatly with the push for a polished retail journey.

The Saudi lineup will include the Kushaq, Karoq and Kodiaq crossovers, as well as the Octavia hatchback. In 2026, the Superb in two body styles and the Slavia sedan will join the range. Sales and service centers are set to open in Jeddah and Al Khobar by the end of the year, with a flagship showroom planned for Riyadh in 2026. The cadence looks sensible: core crossovers and a familiar hatchback first, with the heavier hitters following close behind.