31st July 2007

It's not often that the introduction of a new car brand fundamentally changes the shape of a motor show. However, the Australian debut of Skoda at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in October will do just that.

The fast-growing Czech carmaker is taking up residence in Hall 6 of the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre, along with parent company Volkswagen and its ultra-luxury Bentley brand.

"We are looking forward to having a significantly enhanced presence at the Sydney show," said the managing director of the VW Group in Australia, Jutta Dierks. "Our group display is an appropriate reflection of our recent rapid growth in Australia and signals our ambitions to grow further.

The hall has been re-christened The Pavilion in honour of the transformation it will undergo at the hands of the three brands' highly creative stand designers.

Skoda has built a reputation in Europe for quality and innovation and its display in The Pavilion will reflect those brand values.

"The Sydney show will mark the public debut of Skoda on the Australian market, so we are doing what we can to make sure consumers notice and remember our new cars," said the head of Skoda Australia, Matthew Wiesner.

Skoda will launch two production models at the show: the mid-sized Octavia sedan and hatch and the Roomster, a small crossover wagon.

Underlining its design-forward credentials, Skoda will also display its Yeti concept car ? a small Sports Utility Vehicle which strongly hints at the brand's future direction.

"One of the key values of the Skoda brand is additional interior space and ergonomic design, and the Yeti and Roomster are great examples of that," Mr Wiesner said.

The establishment of The Pavilion by Volkswagen, Skoda and Bentley means the 2007 Australian International Motor Show expands to become the biggest ever.

"The expansion of the auto brands into The Pavilion at the Exhibition Centre has allowed us to change and improve floor arrangements, making the show look and feel substantially different from past years," said FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar.

"The Volkswagen Group, including Skoda and Bentley, are to be commended for the vision and entrepreneurial spirit they have displayed in establishing The Pavilion," Mr McKellar said.