Skoda Roomster price starts at Kc339,900

Skoda introduced the model as its main attraction at the Geneva motor show today.

Serial production of Roomsters is scheduled to begin at end- March. Skoda will start to sell the car on the Czech market and selected European markets at end-June.

"First of all, it will be [available] in Slovakia, Austria and Germany," said Cerny.

Skoda sells its Fabia model from Kc224,900, Skoda Octavia Tour from Kc369,900, the new Octavia from Kc424,900 and Skoda Superb from Kc619,900.

Roomster is 4,205 millimetres long, 1,684 mm wide and 1,607 mm high, and offers cargo space of 460-1,780 litres. Skoda has said it offers room comparable to considerably bigger cars.

Roomster was first introduced as a design study at the Frankfurt motor show in 2003. Skoda decided to develop a model for serial production owing to favourable response to the car.

The new family car is the first multi-purpose model made by Skoda, and the first brand new model of the car maker after five years.

Skoda expects to produce 15,000 Roomsters this year. It will offer the model with three petrol and three diesel engines with both manual and automatic gearboxes.

Skoda Auto has invested in an expansion of its plant in Kvasiny, East Bohemia and hired more than 2,500 staff because of Roomster.

The company plans to produce more than 500,000 cars for the first time in history this year. Last year, its global sales to almost 90 markets reached a record-high 492,111 units.