ŠKODA, best April in Corporate history, and still growing.

• ŠKODA deliveries increase by 15.5% to 89,600 cars (April 2013: 77,600)
• Growth in all major sales regions; up 20.7% in Europe
• New ŠKODA Octavia still number one: almost 60% increase in Western Europe
• ŠKODA model campaign continues with Octavia G-TEC and Octavia Scout
• ŠKODA UK enjoys record April with 6200 sales

ŠKODA’s worldwide deliveries increased 15.5% to 89,600 cars in April (April 2013: 77,600), making it the best April in the company’s history. ŠKODA grew by 20.7% in Europe, in China by 7.6% and in Russia by 3%. The new ŠKODA Octavia has proved to be a huge hit, recording an increase in sales of around a third. Deliveries of the ŠKODA Octavia even rose by almost 60% in Western Europe.  

“We are pleased to be continuing the positive trend of the last few months,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Head of Sales and Marketing. “Our attractive and young model range is inspiring more and more customers. After achieving the best April ever, we have seamlessly continued our sales record from the first quarter.” The brand sold more cars in the first three months of the year than ever before in a first quarter.

Over the coming months, the manufacturer plans to continue the most comprehensive model campaign in corporate history with new models. Later this month the new ŠKODA Octavia G-TEC – the first Octavia to run on natural gas – will be celebrating its premiere. The new ŠKODA Octavia Scout will be released on the markets this summer. In addition, three new sporty Monte Carlo versions of the ŠKODA Yeti, ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback and ŠKODA Citigo will be coming out soon. The company will also be introducing the new ŠKODA Octavia und den ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback in China – the brand’s largest individual market – in the first half of this year. The ŠKODA Rapid has complemented the brand’s model range in Russia since April.

In April the Czech brand once again recorded significant growth in Western Europe. Deliveries to customers increased by 22.1% to 36,600 vehicles (April 2013: 29,900), meaning ŠKODA has grown significantly in all individual markets. In Germany – the brand’s largest European market – ŠKODA deliveries increased 16.2% to 12,900 cars, where the Czech manufacturer is also the clear leader in import models. With an increase of 26.2% to 6200 vehicles delivered, the brand continues to perform excellently on the UK market.

ŠKODA sales more than doubled in the Netherlands (1600 vehicles; up 103.2%). ŠKODA also achieved double-digit growth in Belgium (1900 vehicles; up 28.9%), France (1900 vehicles; up 17.3%), Spain (1700 vehicles; up 28.7%), Switzerland (1500 vehicles; up 34.2%), Italy (1300 vehicles; up 11.4%), Austria (2000 vehicles; up 19.6%), Finland (800 vehicles; up 20.9%), Ireland (500 vehicles; up 26.4%), Greece (300 vehicles; up 33.3%) and Portugal (300 vehicles; up 48.0%).

In Eastern Europe, ŠKODA grew 1.6% to 10,700 vehicles delivered this April (April 2013: 10,500). In Russia – the brand’s third-largest market worldwide – 7700 vehicles were delivered to customers, representing an increase of 3.2% over April 2013. (April 2013: 7500). ŠKODA also recorded double-digit growth in Romania (600 vehicles; up 38.7%), Serbia (500 vehicles; up 60.7%), the Baltic States (500 vehicles; up 51.7%) and Kazakhstan (400 vehicles; up 43.1%).

ŠKODA sales increased by more than a third in Central Europe this April. Deliveries to customers increased 35.8% to 14,600 vehicles (April 2013: 10,800). The brand achieved an outstanding sales result in their Czech home market, recording growth of 38.9% to 7100 vehicles delivered (April 2013: 5100). In Croatia, 700 customers opted for a ŠKODA – almost four times as many as April 2013. ŠKODA is also going from strength to strength in Poland (4200 vehicles; up 28.1%), Slovakia (1400 vehicles; up 11.2%), Hungary (800 vehicles; up 25.5%) and Slovenia (400 vehicles; up 34.0%).

ŠKODA’s strongest individual market this April was China once again, where deliveries to customers increased by 7.6% to 21,900 vehicles (April 2013: 20,400). In India, ŠKODA sold 1200 vehicles in April (April 2013: 2000).

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

ŠKODA Octavia (33,000; +5.5 %)

ŠKODA Rapid (16,900; +157.7 %)

ŠKODA Fabia (15,000; -20.1 %)

ŠKODA Yeti (10,400; +52.8 %)

ŠKODA Superb (7500; -4.0 %)

ŠKODA Citigo (Sold only in Europe: 3900; +11.0 %)

ŠKODA Roomster (2800; +1.4 %)