ŠKODA AUTO has sold more cars in the first quarter of 2014 than ever before in the first three months of a year

• Record quarter: ŠKODA delivers 247,200 vehicles to customers in the first three months (January to March 2013: 220,400; up 12.1%)
• Record March: 96,100 deliveries, up 14.6%
• Growth with new models; ŠKODA grows by 17% in Europe in the first quarter
• Western-European sales of new ŠKODA Octavia increase by 49.4% in March
• ŠKODA UK celebrates record quarter with 20,307 registrations

ŠKODA AUTO has sold more cars in the first quarter of 2014 than ever before in the first three months of a year. Between January and March, the brand delivered 247,200 vehicles to customers, which is an increase of 12.1% over the same period last year. In March, deliveries increased by 14.6% compared to the same month last year to 96,100 vehicles (March 2013: 83,800). This has been the best March in corporate history. Western-European sales of the new ŠKODA Octavia increased by 49% in March, and 47% in Central Europe.

“Recording double-digit growth in the first quarter, ŠKODA has continued impressively on the company’s path to growth,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The best first quarter and the best March in our history have been the result of outstanding products and an excellent team performance. The entire model range has proven to be a great success on the international markets. The new Octavia, in particular, has been a great hit in every respect. We will be keeping the pace up in 2014, and vigorously pursuing the most comprehensive model campaign in ŠKODA’s history.”

The new ŠKODA Octavia is to be launched for the first time as a CNG version – the Octavia G-TEC – on the first European markets in June, with the new ŠKODA Octavia Scout being launched soon afterwards in August. There are also to be three new sporty Monte Carlo special editions of the ŠKODA Yeti, ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback and the ŠKODA Citigo. The new ŠKODA Octavia and ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback will also be introduced on ŠKODA’s largest individual market of China in summer. The ŠKODA Rapid will be launched in Russia this month as well. The spectacular ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ design study, seen a few weeks ago at the Geneva Motor Show, gave an insight into ŠKODA’s future design language.

ŠKODA achieved significant growth in Western Europe during the first quarter and March. Deliveries to customers rose by 18.7% to 45,500 vehicles in March, (March 2013: 38,300). Between January and March, the brand grew by 15.6% to 104,400 units (first quarter of 2013: 90,400). This was the first time that more than 100,000 ŠKODAs were delivered in a first quarter in Western Europe. ŠKODA’s total market share increased to 3.3%. In March ŠKODA strengthened its position in Germany as the largest foreign brand with an increase of 10.8% to 14,500 vehicles (March 2013: 13,100). The brand’s market share had risen to 4.9% in Germany by the end of March.  

ŠKODA is gaining strength in the UK, where sales increased by 26.1% in March to 12,700 vehicles (March 2013: 10,000). Registrations for the quarter made ŠKODA UK the 12th largest car brand in the UK, with 20,307 units and an even split of sales between retail (10,687 units) and fleet (9,620 units). Market share also reached a record 3%. That compares to 15,504 for the same period last year, a 2.6% market share.

The manufacturer recorded high double-digit growth rates in Austria (2,100 vehicles; up 29.1%), Spain (1,800 vehicles; up 41.5%), Switzerland (1,900 vehicles; up 38.7%), the Netherlands (1,600 vehicles, up 72.4%), Finland (1,000 vehicles, up 35.2%) and Portugal (200 vehicles; up 36.7%).

In Eastern-Europe, including Russia, ŠKODA’s deliveries were 3.8% up on last year with sales of 10,700 vehicles (March 2013: 10,300). The manufacturer achieved an overall increase of 5.3%, delivering 26,500 vehicles to customers in the first quarter (January to March 2013: 25,200). Thus ŠKODA performed better than the overall market and the market share had grown to 3.9% by the end of March. ŠKODA’s sales in Russia were slightly up on the previous year with 7,800 vehicles delivered (March 2013: 7,700 vehicles; up 1.2%). ŠKODA’s sales in Russia were also slightly higher than 2013 during the first quarter of 2014, with 18,900 deliveries (January to March 2013: 18,600 vehicles; up 1.5%). In Serbia, ŠKODA’s sales in March increased by 57.5% to 500 vehicles sold, and in Romania by 33.6% to 600 cars. The brand achieved significant growth in Kazakhstan too (300 vehicles; up 92.7%) and in the Baltic States (500 vehicles; up 42.9%). 

ŠKODA once again achieved high growth rates in Central Europe. In March, deliveries increased by 28.9% to 13,400 vehicles (March 2013: 10,400). In the first quarter, growth of 30.2% was recorded, equivalent to 37,400 vehicles delivered (first quarter of 2013: 28,800). The market share increased in the first quarter to 19.2%, after 18% in the first quarter of 2013. One in five newly-registered cars in central Europe is a ŠKODA. In the brand’s home market of the Czech Republic, vehicle sales increased by 20.7% to 5,600 (March 2013: 4,600). ŠKODA is also doing exceptionally well in Poland (4,900 vehicles; up 39.3%), Hungary (700 vehicles; up 17.2%), Slovenia (400 vehicles; up 34.1%) and Croatia (400 vehicles; up 241.1%).

ŠKODA achieved growth in its strongest individual market, China. In March, deliveries increased by 10.1% to 20,300 vehicles (March 2013: 18,400). In the first quarter, the brand grew by a total of 7.5% to 62,000 vehicles delivered (January to March 2013: 57,700).

In India, ŠKODA delivered 1,700 vehicles to customers in March (March 2013: 2,300). In the first quarter 4,700 ŠKODAs went customers in India, after 6,500 vehicles during same period last year. 

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in March 2014 (in units, rounded off, by models; +/- in % over the same month last year):

ŠKODA Superb (8,500; -5.8%)
ŠKODA Octavia (33,900; +11.3%)
ŠKODA Rapid (16,500; +143.1%)
ŠKODA Fabia (18,200; -14.8%)
ŠKODA Yeti (11,000; +44.5%)
ŠKODA Roomster (3,000; -9.8%)
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 5,000; -5.5%)

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in the first quarter of 2014 (in units, rounded off, by models; +/- in % over the same period last year):

ŠKODA Superb (22,600; -14.2%)
ŠKODA Octavia (94,700; +8.3%)
ŠKODA Rapid (45,000; +201.2%)
ŠKODA Fabia (43,300; -17.8%)
ŠKODA Yeti (23,100; +22.6%)
ŠKODA Roomster (7,700; +0.6%)
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 10,800; -13.9%)