Škoda Vision O: First image of new Octavia EV concept

Škoda intended to accelerate its plans to expand its lineup of electric vehicles. By 2026, the brand aimed to offer as many as six EVs, one of which was supposed to be an electric estate car the size of the Škoda Octavia. However, things have turned out a bit differently, and this model is now postponed to a later date. Still, the new electric Škoda Octavia will make its first appearance this year, as its concept car called Škoda Vision O will debut in the autumn.

The concept of the new electric Octavia will be revealed at this year’s IAA auto show in Munich.
“In September in Munich, we’ll present a concept that will hint at the new design language of the Octavia and showcase the technologies this vehicle will be capable of offering,” Škoda Auto CEO Klaus Zellmer said earlier this year. Through this concept, the company wants to provide a first look at the capabilities of the future car and at the same time gauge the response of the public and media.

The design of Škoda’s electric estate is hinted at by a previously unveiled sculpture. It will incorporate motifs of the new Modern Solid design language, created by Oliver Stefani’s team, which aims to emphasize Škoda’s core attributes: robustness, functionality, and authenticity.

First images of Škoda Vision O reveal the silhouette of the headlights and the curves of its aerodynamically sculpted body. The car features a markedly raked windshield and a gently sloping roofline, hallmark elements typical of Škoda’s popular estate cars.

The entire concept follows the spirit of circularity—hence the letter “O” in its name. Circularity entails, among other things, an emphasis on recycling and re-using components and ensuring overall sustainability of both car and production, while it also shapes the car’s everyday practicality.

The exterior styling was penned by South-Korean designer Jounggeen Kim.

Škoda’s EV novelties through 2026

Even though we’ll see the concept Vision O this year, the launch of the production car has been postponed compared to the original plans.

“By 2026, our fully electric models will cover all relevant vehicle segments for our customers. We will provide them with the means to explore the world in a sustainable, stylish, and safe way, with the sense of confidence,” said Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, in 2023.

Just a year later, however, it turned out that European interest in electric vehicles wasn’t as strong as the carmaker had expected. Therefore, the company reconsidered its plans.

“To be honest, with the slowing transition to battery EVs, we are reevaluating our timeline. We’re reviewing the order in which the new models are launched,” Zellmer told British magazine Autocar in October 2024, adding that Škoda intends to offer cars that are in demand and can adjust its offer flexibly.

Which new cars will debut in 2026?

Let’s take a look at new cars for 2026 we already know something about.

According to these revised plans, the order of new releases will be as follows: the already available Enyaq iV and Enyaq iV Coupé will receive a facelift in 2025. In the same year, the small electric SUV Škoda Epiq, built in Spain, will arrive. Škoda Elroq, a compact electric SUV and successor to the Karoq, was already unveiled last year. For 2026, the company still plans a large seven-seater SUV, the production version of the Vision 7S concept. The Octavia-sized electric estate, however, will not arrive until 2027 or possibly even 2028. According to earlier targets, it was expected in 2026.

An electric alternative to the Octavia

The delayed launch is also related to a change in the underlying platform. Originally, it was assumed the new electric estate would be based on the MEB platform known from the Enyaq, but Škoda has now decided to use the more modern SSP architecture. According to Zellmer, this will be both more capable and more cost-effective, eventually replacing MEB. Alongside the Octavia EV, the upcoming ninth-generation VW Golf will also use this platform.

Škoda Auto has already revealed a few details about the car. The estate will be the brand’s first electric station wagon, roughly 4.7 meters long—similar to today’s Octavia Combi. The company describes it as a suitable addition to the portfolio, suggesting that at least initially, it will be sold alongside the existing internal combustion Octavia.

By the time of its release, the competition will already be relatively broad. Compact electric wagons are already offered by Opel and Peugeot through the Astra ST Electric and the e-308 SW. MG 5 is also already available on the market.