ŠKODA POSTS REPEAT SALES RECORD IN 2012

• Deliveries rise 6.8 per cent to 939,200 cars in 2012
• ŠKODA market share in Western Europe rises above three per cent
• China: strongest individual ŠKODA market at nearly 235,700 deliveries (+7.1 per cent)
• Russia: ŠKODA market share grows from three to over 3.6 per cent
• ŠKODA UK has a record market share of 2.6 per cent with registrations of over 53,000
• Brand set to continue model offensive in 2013 with new ŠKODA Octavia

ŠKODA AUTO set another sales record in 2012 as deliveries to customers worldwide rose 6.8 per cent to 939,200 (2011: 879,200). December was the best in the company’s history, the brand delivered nearly 66,200 vehicles to its customers. This result represents sales advance of 6.1 per cent in comparison with December 2011. The brand’s model offensive is set to enter its next stage in the 2013 with the launch of the new ŠKODA Octavia.

“In the past year, ŠKODA sold 939,200 units, more than ever before. This we reached despite the crisis in some markets,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “ŠKODA has again gained market share in many markets thanks to attractive new models, extending the successful course of its growth strategy,” says Vahland. For ŠKODA, 2013 will be mainly about the model offensive including first the launch of the new ŠKODA Octavia at the beginning of the year. “Overall, the 2013 automobile year will not be an easy one.”

But new ŠKODA cars such as Octavia, Rapid and Citigo and our favourable presence on the international markets offer a good starting base for our brand,” the ŠKODA CEO added.

In Western Europe in 2012, ŠKODA significantly outperformed a shrinking overall market, delivering more than 358,400 units to customers (2011: 361,800). ŠKODA’s market share rose above three per cent compared to 2.8 per cent a year ago. In Germany, the brand’s largest European and its second-largest market worldwide after China, ŠKODA raised sales by 3.6 per cent to around 132,600 (2011: 128,000), confirming its status as the country’s strongest importer.

In Great Britain, ŠKODA UK advanced 17.6 per cent year on year, from 45,300 sold in 2011 to a current record of over 53,200 units and a record market share of 2.6 per cent. Records in sales were achieved in 2012 in Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark, as well.

In Eastern Europe, ŠKODA deliveries in 2012 rose 26.4 per cent to almost 137,100 (2011: 108,400). The brand thus grew three times as fast as the overall market, its market share rising to 4.2 per cent from almost 3.6 per cent in 2011. The Russian market proved the most buoyant again as the brand’s deliveries were at 99,100 units and grew by 33.7 per cent (2011: 74,100 deliveries). This is a new yearly high for the brand in Russia. ŠKODA market share in Russia grew from three to 3.6 per cent.

The brand also posted repeat growth in Central Europe, where ŠKODA delivered a total of 124,000 cars in 2012, up 0.7 per cent year on year (2011: 123,200 deliveries). Market share reached almost 19 per cent (previous year: 18.4 per cent), thus almost one new car in five delivered to customers in Eastern Central Europe was a ŠKODA.

Another area of ŠKODA’s repeated growth last year was China, where the brand’s deliveries, at almost 235,700, were up 7.1 per cent as against 220,100 units in 2011. Therefore, China accounted for one quarter of ŠKODA sales worldwide.

ŠKODA also continued its growth in India, with around 34,300 units and a 14.2 per cent growth compared to 30,000 units in 2011.

Moreover, ŠKODA can report record deliveries to customers in 2012: for example markets in; Israel, turkey, Algeria, Australia, Iraq, Taiwan, Kazakhstan or Morocco.

New ŠKODA Octavia to extend model offensive
The first half of 2013 will be influenced by the beginning of production and sales of the new SKODA Octavia. Still, in 2013, ŠKODA aims to further bolster its international market position. “Economic headwinds will continue to affect automobile markets in 2013,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA board member for sales and marketing. “Especially in Europe, the sales slump in some markets is not over yet. However, we think there will be further growth outside Europe. This means the new ŠKODA Octavia and other new models in the next twelve months will come at just the right time,” says Eichhorn.

In launching the new ŠKODA Octavia, the brand ignites the next stage in the largest model offensive in the company’s history. “The ŠKODA Octavia is the heart of the brand. In the new Octavia, we have made a good car even better. It is a class of its own, offering middle-segment quality at a compact-car price,” says CEO Vahland. ŠKODA will begin introduction of the compact saloon in the Czech Republic in early February, with other international markets subsequently to follow.

ŠKODA brand deliveries to customers in 2012 (in units, rounded, by models; +/- in per cent year on year):

ŠKODA Octavia (409,600; +5.8 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (240,500; -9.9 %)
ŠKODA Superb (109,100; -6.5 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (87,400; +24.3 %)
ŠKODA Roomster (38,000; +5.4 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (24,700; new model)
ŠKODA Citigo (sold in Europe only: 30,000; new model)