Best February of all time: ŠKODA global deliveries increase to 81,200 vehicles (+ 3.1%).

• Best February of all time: ŠKODA global deliveries increase to 81,200 vehicles (+ 3.1%)
• Double-digit growth rates in Central and Eastern Europe (+ 12.9% and + 13.3%), India (+ 12.8%) and Israel (+ 19.8%)
• ŠKODA presents six new models at the Geneva Motor Show

ŠKODA continues along the path of growth in 2017. The Czech car manufacturer delivered 81,200 vehicles to customers worldwide in February; 3.1% more than in the same period last year (February 2016: 78,800). 

ŠKODA sold more cars than any February in its history. The Czech manufacturer achieved double-digit growth in Central and Eastern Europe (+ 12.9% and + 13.3%), India (+ 12.8%) and Israel (+ 19.8%), among others.

"We are delighted with our strong start to 2017. We expect the market launch of the OCTAVIA product upgrade as well as the new KODIAQ to create further momentum," says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

At the Geneva Motor Show, ŠKODA is currently presenting the new KODIAQ SPORTLINE and KODIAQ SCOUT, as well as the model revisions of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA, RAPID and CITIGO.

In Western Europe, deliveries to customers rose by 7.0% in February to 34,800 vehicles (February 2016: 32,500). With 12,600 vehicles, Germany remains the strongest single European market (February 2016: 12,100 vehicles, +4.5%). ŠKODA recorded double-digit growth rates in the UK (3,400 vehicles, +23.6%), Italy (2,200 vehicles + 20.1%), Belgium (2 000 vehicles, +27.1%) and Austria (1,900 vehicles, +64.7%).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA achieved an increase of 12.9% with 17,400 cars (February 2016: 15,400 vehicles). Deliveries on the home market of the Czech Republic rose by 8.8% to 8,200 vehicles, in Poland (5,700 vehicles, + 16.3%), Slovakia (1,700 vehicles, +15.4%), Slovenia (600 vehicles, +22.6%) and Croatia (300 vehicles; +46.9%), also rose in double figures.

In Eastern Europe, excluding Russia, ŠKODA achieved a year-on-year increase of 13.3% with 2,800 vehicles delivered (February 2016: 2,500 vehicles). In the same period, 400 customers in Ukraine received their new ŠKODA – an increase of 93.9% (February 2016: 200 vehicles). The number of deliveries increased significantly in Bosnia (200 vehicles, + 55.7%), Bulgaria (200 vehicles, +17.5%) and the Baltic States (600 vehicles, + 22.9%). In Russia, ŠKODA achieved an increase of 4.6% with 4,300 vehicles (February 2016: 4,100 vehicles).

In China – the brand’s largest market worldwide – ŠKODA handed over the keys to 15,000 new vehicles (February 2016: 18,500 vehicles; -18.8%). Deliveries overseas increased by 98% to a total of 2,500 vehicles.

At the Geneva Motor Show, ŠKODA is presenting several new highlights. These include the ŠKODA KODIAQ SCOUT and ŠKODA KODIAQ SPORTLINE alongside the extensively upgraded ŠKODA OCTAVIA as well as the sporty spearhead ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 245 and the ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT with a rugged off-road look. In addition, the upgraded ŠKODA models RAPID and RAPID SPACEBACK, and Citigo are on show.

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in February 2017 (in units, rounded off, by model; +/- in percent compared to February 2016):

ŠKODA OCTAVIA (28,600; -8.6%)

ŠKODA FABIA (16,700, + 15.2%)

ŠKODA RAPID (15,000, + 12.1%)

ŠKODA SUPERB (10,900, + 17.1%)

ŠKODA KODIAQ (1,300; + 100.0%)

ŠKODA YETI (6,300, -15.7%)

ŠKODA CITIGO (only sold in Europe: 2,300, -16.4%) 

END OF YEAR WORLDWIDE - SEAT - The brand ended the year with more growth, thats 4 years running !

• SEAT delivered 410,200 cars in 2016, its best result since 2007
• Sales growth close to 30% since 2012
• Leon and Alhambra smash their all-time deliveries record
• Turkey, Austria, Poland, Sweden and Portugal, the markets making the biggest strides
• SEAT has upgraded 60% of showrooms with its new corporate identity

SEAT concluded 2016 with increased sales for the fourth consecutive year. The carmaker delivered a total of 410,200 vehicles, which is 2.6% more than in 2015 (400,000) and the best result since 2007. In the last four years, SEAT sales have gone up by 27.8%, which represents 89,200 more cars than in 2012 (321,000). 

The new Ateca has spurred SEAT deliveries. 24,200 units of the company’s first-ever SUV have been sold since it reached dealerships last July. Thanks to its successful launch, SEAT deliveries in the second half of 2016 increased by 5.3%.

The Ateca figures are complemented by growth posted by the Alhambra and the Leon. Both models concluded 2016 with their highest ever sales results. 

Coinciding with its 20th anniversary, sales of the brand’s large MPV saw double-digit improvement, increasing by 13.6% to stand at 30,700 units. 

In terms of the Leon, its sales went up by 3.0% to reach 165,000 vehicles. This is the best sales result of the Leon since it was launched in 1999, and cements its place as the brand’s best-selling model. 

Furthermore, the Ibiza is approaching the end of its fourth generation with high sales volumes of its own, ending 2016 with 152,000 vehicles deliveries, which is only slightly lower than 2015 (-0.9%).

SEAT President Luca de Meo expressed his satisfaction with the results. 

“Our product offensive has just begun, and for yet another year our performance has earned us positive results. The launch of the Ateca enables us to face the future with optimism: it’s already the brand’s third pillar, and starting this year its contribution to sales is going to be much more noticeable”. 

Speaking about 2017, Luca de Meo added, “with the updated Leon, the fifth generation Ibiza and the new Arona we set ourselves the goal of increasing our sales volume. 2017 is going to be a very special year for SEAT”.

320,000 vehicles delivered in Western Europe

SEAT sales in Western Europe reached 319,900 units, 2.2% more than in 2015 (312,800) thanks to momentum in markets such as Austria (+12.9%), Sweden (+31.3%) and Portugal (+17.0%). This is the best result in the region since 2007. 

SEAT also ended the year with a positive balance in five major European countries. In Germany, the brand’s largest market, sales went up by 2.5% to reach 90,000 units, while Spain came in second with 77,200 vehicles delivered (+0.1%). 

The United Kingdom and France, SEAT’s third and fifth largest markets, improved by 0.5% totalling 47,400 and 22,500 vehicles respectively, while sales grew by 3.9% in Italy, the company’s seventh largest market, with a total of 16,500 cars delivered. 

All-time sales records in Turkey and Israel

Growth in Poland (+22.0%), SEAT’s largest market in the region, and in Hungary (+11.1%) drove SEAT sales in Eastern Europe, with an overall 8.2% increase to stand at 28,200 vehicles (2015: 26,100). This is the highest sales figure in the region since 2008. In addition, SEAT sales went up by 3.2% in the Czech Republic, where the company posted its best ever result.

In 2016, SEAT once again broke its sales record in Turkey and Israel. Turkey, the company’s sixth largest market, contributed more new volume after increasing by 41.7% to stand at 19,700 vehicles, 5,800 more than in 2015. In Israel, SEAT grew by 6.2% and recorded a total of 8,000 units sold. In addition, in Mexico, the brand’s fourth largest market, SEAT sales totaled 24,500 vehicles, 1.5% more than the previous year.

Furthermore, SEAT began its marketing efforts in Singapore and Mauritius in 2016, two new markets that join Moldova and Palestine, which were opened up in 2015.

SEAT’s product offensive, which began with the Ateca, will continue in 2017. This month, the updated Leon will start arriving in dealerships in several markets, followed by the new Ibiza in the first six months of the year, and subsequently the new Arona. 

The launch of the Ateca is having a positive impact on customer deliveries, as well as on the company’s financial results. 

In the first nine months of 2016, the company posted an operating profit of 137 million euros, a figure which is 11 times higher than the profit obtained in the same period the year before.

Updates to the dealership network

SEAT finished 2016 having upgraded 60% of its network of more than 1,700 showrooms with its new corporate identity. The new look conveys a seamless link between SEAT’s corporate identity and brand design, symbolising the values of the company to create an open and welcoming environment.