ŠKODA delivers 69,500 cars in January

20-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — ŠKODA continues its model offensive: 2013 will see eight new ŠKODA automobiles or model variants. Third ŠKODA Octavia generation in successful launch. German market share now at about 4.7 per cent.

In January 2013, ŠKODA delivered over 69,500 vehicles to customers. As expected, sales of the ŠKODA Octavia were down 7.8 per cent year on year due to the model change. The continued downward trend on some European markets also had a negative impact on sales ŠKODA raised sales in China, its largest market worldwide, by 4.1 per cent. The brand outperformed the respective domestic market in Germany, Great Britain and Austria, among others.

“In 2013, ŠKODA will maintain the intensity of its model offensive. We will introduce a total of eight new ŠKODA automobiles or model variants,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “This year’s first newcomer is the third model generation of the ŠKODA Octavia. This relaunch of our bestselling model has been very well received both by the industry and the public,” says Vahland.

Because of the model change and the attendant ramp-up of production, ŠKODA expects deliveries to slow down during the first half of the year. In the second half, full volume availability should have a positive impact on sales. Against this background, ŠKODA sold 69,500 units to customers in January, or 7.8 per cent less year on year.

The model change and a partly difficult environment in Western Europe had ŠKODA sales declining to 26,500 (January 2012: 29,300). In Great Britain, ŠKODA continued to grow, selling more than 4,300, a year-on-year plus of 18.5 per cent (January 2012: 3,600). In Denmark, ŠKODA sales even rose by 37.4 per cent, from 600 to a current figure of almost 800; in Austria, sales advanced by 19.0 per cent to almost 2,400 (January 2012: 2,000). In Germany, ŠKODA’s second-largest market worldwide, the brand bucked a declining overall market to increase its share to almost 4.7 per cent as sales rose 0.2 per cent to over 8,900 (January 2012: 8,900).

In Eastern Europe, ŠKODA sold more than 6,200 (January 2012: 7,700). Sales of the ŠKODA Yeti increased, totalling 900 for an advance of 19.6 per cent (January 2012: 800). As the overall market in Russia declined, ŠKODA sold more than 4,600 cars in January 2013 (January 2012: 4,800).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA followed the market’s downward trend and sold 8,900 (January 2012: 10,200). In the Czech Republic, its home market, sales totalled almost 3,700 (January 2012: 4,100).

ŠKODA continued its progress in China’s dynamic market, selling 21,600 for a plus of 4.1 per cent compared to January 2012, which saw sales of almost 20,800.

In India ŠKODA sold 2,400 cars in January (January 2012: 3,000).

ŠKODA brand deliveries to customers in January 2013
(in units, rounded, by model; +/- in per cent year on year):

ŠKODA Octavia (30,000; -14.9%)
ŠKODA Fabia (15,800; -20.9%)
ŠKODA Superb (8,500; -10.4%)
ŠKODA Yeti (5,500; -11.7%)
ŠKODA Roomster (2,000; -24.1%)
ŠKODA Rapid (4,100; new model)
ŠKODA Citigo (sold in Europe only: 3,600; new model)