26 years of ownership by VW has resulted in 15 million cars made, and this will grow even quicker.

• Strong partnership: ŠKODA manufacturing under umbrella of Volkswagen Group since 1991
• Success story: from regional operator to global high-volume manufacturer
• Sales record: ŠKODA delivered 1,126,500 cars to customers in 2016
• Brand bestseller: ŠKODA OCTAVIA was first new model after Volkswagen Group merger

ŠKODA is celebrating the production of its 15-millionth vehicle since the beginning of its partnership with Volkswagen. The two companies have thereby reached another milestone in their shared success story. Since being incorporated into the Volkswagen Group in 1991, ŠKODA has transformed from a regional operator into an established high-volume manufacturer that is represented in over 100 markets across the world. Last year, the car manufacturer achieved a new sales record with 1,126,500 deliveries.

“ŠKODA has developed very dynamically as part of Volkswagen Group,” said ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier, adding, “With globally successful products and a motivated team, we continue along our path to growth. Strategy 2025 describes the major process of change, through which we are preparing the company for the future – most notably with the expansion of our SUV campaign, the digitalisation of our products, processes and production, as well as by turning our attention to electromobility.”

ŠKODA Board Member for Production and Logistics Michael Oeljeklaus added, “The fact that 15 million ŠKODA cars have been produced since the beginning of our partnership with Volkswagen Group emphasises the high level of production quality at our Czech and international sites as well as the expertise of our staff. Thanks to its model range and also its modern production facilities, the long-established ŠKODA brand stands for state-of-the-art technology and efficiency.”

In the past 25 years, ŠKODA has written an exemplary success story and has developed into an established high-volume manufacturer. After a fresh start under the umbrella of Volkswagen Group in 1991, the Czech brand initially offered one model range and sold 170,000 cars per year. In 2016, the manufacturer achieved a new record figure with 1,126,500 deliveries being made worldwide. After the first five months of this year, ŠKODA is once again on course for record sales, having delivered 480,000 cars so far.

With seven model ranges and over 40 model variants, ŠKODA is now represented in all important segments. The brand’s extensive SUV campaign began with the launch of the new ŠKODA KODIAQ in February 2017. This is being continued with the KAROQ compact SUV, whose production will begin shortly. With a total of 5.6 million cars, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA represents the largest proportion of the 15 million cars that have been produced since the merger with Volkswagen, followed by the small car, ŠKODA FABIA, with four million and the ŠKODA SUPERB with just over one million.

As it has grown, the company has been cultivating an international and efficient production network. In its home country of the Czech Republic, besides its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, the manufacturer also operates production plants in Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. In addition, ŠKODA cars are rolling off the production line at Volkswagen Group plants in China, India, Russia and Slovakia.

The consistent expansion of the model range and development of the brand’s innovation culture as well as improvement in production capacity are important components of ŠKODA’s 2025 strategy. With this strategy, the car manufacturer is preparing for progressive and profound change within society and the industry. In this context, the company will – over the coming years – once again significantly intensify its focus on the topics of digitalisation, electrification and internationalisation, and will provide modern solutions for the mobility of the future.

ŠKODA production since merging with Volkswagen Group:

Model	Number produced		Period
FAVORIT	768,690		1991 – 1995
FELICIA	1,401,489		1994 – 2001
OCTAVIA	5,618,597		1996 – present
FABIA	4,004,569		1999 – present
SUPERB	1,026,055		2001 – present
ROOMSTER	371,503		2006 – 2015
YETI	659,631		2009 – present
CITIGO	222,127		2011 – present
RAPID	892,732		2011 – present
KODIAQ	34,607		2016 – present
15,000,000		1991 – present

ITALY - Maruti Suzuki confirms its place at the top of the Indian sales charts, with four models.

After reaching the amazing figure of 15 million cars produced in its history, Suzuki confirms that it is the absolute leader of the Indian market with four models topping the sales charts. 

The city car Celerio celebrates the Indian market the 100,000 units sold, a success achieved thanks to a unique offering in its segment

In June, Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that it has taken the top spots again in the Indian market for the third consecutive month. 

The compact notchback sedan DZire (model not imported in Italy) saw an increase in sales of 11%, totaling 19,663 units that consecrate as the car more market demand. 

Next to this important achievement, Maruti Suzuki has celebrated the first 100,000 units sold of the Celerio model, the city car of the new generation, came on sale, successfully, from November 2014 also on the Italian market, which, in just over a year after its debut at the show Auto Expo in Delhi (2014) has already clinched a spot in the top ten of the Indian market. 

Small outside, inside XL. Even in content

The success of Celerio is related to several factors that distinguish the Suzuki city car. The compact dimensions of the car (with a total length of 3,600 mm) are opposed to a practical and spacious interior, with five real seats and a cargo area with 254 liters of capacity that establishes the reference category. 

The result is an agile and manoeuvrable in city traffic because it is able to offer a more practical and comfortable on board, in addition to the availability of new transmission Auto Gear Shift . "We thank our customers for the appreciation Celerio" said Mr. RS Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales of Maruti Suzuki.

"This car is the first in its class to offer the Indian market technology AGS, and nearly a third of the units sold are equipped with this transmission. 

Customers liked the convenience and efficiency of this system, which has no effect on fuel consumption. In just one year after its debut on the market, thanks to the brand Celerio Maruti Suzuki rose from 61% to 71% of market share in the segment of supermini hatchback". 

Maruti Suzuki, strategy and innovation leader to confirm

Next to the leadership model and the success of DZire Celerio, last June confirmed the success of other Suzuki cars. The model ALTO has seen an increase in sales of 6.5% compared to May, confirming its second place in the internal market. 

The podium is completed by SWIFT, which essentially confirmed the data of the previous month with 17,313 units sold. It follows in fourth place model Wagon R, with 13,221 units. 

The credit for this success is due to specific technical and commercial choices, that led the House to invest strongly on projects related to emerging markets to conquer, consolidating it, the current leadership.

This strategy is part of the all-new 0.8L diesel engine E08A 2-cylinder engine, designed specifically to meet the needs of the Indian market and introduced the model Celerio. 

This unit, with distribution DOHC 8 valves and made of aluminum, combines weight and sizing content with high level performance, through the use of an efficient intercooler combined with a compression ratio content. 

The optimization of flywheels has allowed the reduction of low-frequency vibrations typical of diesel engines with this architecture. 

The result is an engine appreciated for torque and usability, as well as able to take over the role of most efficient car in the domestic market due to fuel consumption of 27.62 km / l *. 

* Search Suzuki of June 2015.

Translated by Google - Apologies for any errors caused.