120 Years, One million cars a year, 100 worldwide markets, and a great looking future, that will be SKODA.

• 120 years of success underscored with a passion for mobility and style
• ŠKODA has helped shape the modern motor industry with its landmark cars
• A great survivor – ŠKODA is one of the oldest automotive brands in the world
• Mláda Boleslav factory has been at the heart of the business since 1905
• ŠKODA is now active in 100 markets with annual sales in excess of 1 million vehicles

ŠKODA is notching up another incredible milestone in 2015 as it celebrates 120 years of production. Founded by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, ŠKODA has developed from small-scale bicycle manufacturer to a global brand active in more than 100 international markets. 

Despite this remarkable growth, ŠKODA continues to display the values that first inspired Laurin and Klement to start the company. Engineering excellence, innovation and unique Czech style remain as important to ŠKODA in 2015 as they did to Laurin and Klement in 1895.

The ŠKODA story is a remarkable one.  The brand has survived the turmoil of two world wars, and battled through some of the toughest economic conditions Europe has seen. Even in difficult times, ŠKODA has had the vision and the engineering ingenuity to create some truly landmark cars that have shaped automotive history.

A brief history

The ŠKODA story began in 1895, when cycling fanatics Václav Laurin (a mechanic) and Václav Klement (a bookseller) started designing and manufacturing bicycles under the name Slavia. The bicycles sold well, so Laurin and Klement decided to take the next step – and add motors. 

The pair started making motorbikes in 1899, and changed the name of their company to the Laurin & Klement Co. While making nearly 4,000 motorbikes of various types, the pair started experimenting with a new phenomenon – the motor car - which began to gradually replace motorbikes from 1905 on.

Expansion led to a merger with Czech engineering firm Pizen Skodova and the formation of the ŠKODA brand as we know it today. 

Despite the devastating impact of two world wars that twice wiped out the brand’s passenger car production and fundamentally changed the political and economic landscape of Czechoslovakia, ŠKODA never lost its passion for innovation and design. 

Cars such as the 1934 Popular brought tubular frame technology to mass production between conflicts, while post-war models such as the 1101 and Octavia helped get the country back on to the road to prosperity. Even during the 1970s and 1980s when difficult trading conditions forced the brand to develop cars on limited budgets, ŠKODA never lost its fighting spirit and desire for original design.

The Velvet Revolution of 1989 marked the start of a new era for both the Czech Republic and ŠKODA. To help the brand realise its ambitious plans for the future, ŠKODA sought a partner and in 1991 announced a merger with the Volkswagen Group. 

With financial security came a design and engineering renaissance that continues to this day. Thanks to landmark models such as the 1996 Octavia and the 2000 Fabia, ŠKODA re-established itself as a major force in the car market. Mould-breaking new models including the Yeti and Superb followed, further reinforcing ŠKODA’s reputation for innovation and bold design.

Today – 110 years after the first Voiturette Type A was driven out of the Mláda Boleslav factory gates - ŠKODA is active in more than 100 international markets and has a broad seven-model range. In 2014, ŠKODA achieved worldwide sales of 1,037,200 vehicles – breaking the 1 million mark for the first time ever.

Skoda smashes all previous sales records for 2014, 2015 is becoming even better !

• More than 1 million cars sold for the first time in 2014: 1,037,200 vehicles (2013: 920,800; up 12.7%)
• Sales revenue: a new record set at 11.8 billion euros (up 13.9%)
• Operating profit: 817 million euros (up 56.5%)
• Strongest individual market China with a record 281,400 deliveries
• Strong start to the year: 163,000 deliveries by the end of February 2015
• All-new ŠKODA Superb continues current model campaign

ŠKODA has confirmed its remarkable success and growth with record sales and financial results for 2014 – breaking the one million deliveries milestone for the first time in its 120-year history.

Global deliveries increased by 12.7% to 1,037,200 vehicles (2013: 920,800) while ŠKODA’s worldwide market share rose to 1.4% (2013: 1.3%). ŠKODA also posted record financial results, with sales revenue increasing 13.9% to 11.8 billion euros (2013: 10.3 billion euros), and operating profit increasing 56.5% to 817 million euros (2013: 522 million euros).

“2014 was another good year for ŠKODA,” said ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “By delivering more than one million vehicles for the first time in a single year, we have sustainably established ourselves as a volume manufacturer on the international markets with our modern model range. It is on this basis that our brand will be perusing our growth strategy.” ŠKODA plans to continue this success and increase sales in 2015 despite the globally challenging market environment. 

In 2014 ŠKODA also set new records for the company in terms of sales revenue and profit. Sales revenue increased 13.9% to 11.8 billion euros (2013: 10.3 billion euros). Operating profit rose 56.5% to 817 million euros (2013: 522 million euros), representing 7.0% of the sales revenue (2013: 5.1%). “ŠKODA is growing profitably. 

Given the challenging situation on the markets and the ongoing intense competition, cost discipline continues to have the highest priority,” said ŠKODA CFO Winfried Krause. Net liquidity rose 40.3% to 2.065 billion euros in 2014 after 1.472 billion euros in 2013. Investments amounted to 698 million euros in 2014 (2013: 741 million euros). Profit before tax reached 775 million euros (2013: 536 million euros), and profit after tax in 2014 totalled 665 million euros (2013: 455 million euros).

Product-driven expansion key to ongoing success

2014 was a year characterised by the most comprehensive and ambitious model campaign of all time. That growth continues in 2015 with the arrival of the new ŠKODA Fabia and new Superb.

Its dimensions and spaciousness move the Superb to the upper end of the automotive mid-class. In addition to the qualities that have made ŠKODA popular, such as functionality, space and value for money, the Superb now sets standards in terms of design and technology, and marks the dawn of a new era for ŠKODA. The new ŠKODA flagship celebrated its world premiere this February in Prague, and is due to be launched on the market in early summer, 2015.

Over the next few months, ŠKODA will be releasing even more product highlights including the new ŠKODA Octavia RS 230, the new ŠKODA Fabia Monte Carlo and the fantastic special ‘Edition’ model for ŠKODA’s Fabia, Rapid, Octavia and Yeti series.

ŠKODA plans to increase their global sales to at least 1.5 million vehicles within the next few years. “After crossing the million mark, 1.5 million seems a whole lot closer,” said Prof. Vahland. To achieve their growth targets, the manufacturer is expanding the production plants both in the Czech Republic and at their sites around the world. 

ŠKODA AUTO Group figures:

				2014	2013	% change
Deliveries to customers		Thousand cars		1037	921	+12.7
Deliveries without China		Thousand cars		756	694	+8.9
Production *		Thousand cars		1050	932	+12.6
Production without China **		Thousand cars		748	651	+15.0
Sales		Thousand cars		796	719	+10.8
Employed ***		People		25,889	25,758	+0.5
Sales revenue		Million EUR		11,758	10,324	+13.9
Operating profit		Million EUR		817	522	+56.5
Operating profit as % of sales		%		+7.0	+5.1	-
Profit before tax		Million EUR		775	536	+44.6
Profit after tax		Million EUR		665	455	+46.0
Investments (w/o capitalized development costs)		Million EUR		698	741	-5.8
Net liquidity		Million EUR		2065	1472	+40.3

* ŠKODA brand worldwide

** comprises ŠKODA AUTO Group Production of the ŠKODA brand, without production in China, Bratislava/Slovakia or Pune/India, but does include other Group brands, such as SEAT, Audi and VW

*** Number of employees without agency staff, but including trainees

Skoda tips the Million for the first time, & with even more increases due this year, the futures looking great

• For the first time, ŠKODA sold more than one million vehicles in a calendar year: 1,037,200 deliveries (2013: 920,800; plus 12.7 per cent)
• Best December ever: 81,900 deliveries (plus 16.9 per cent)
• International success: strong ŠKODA growth in Europe and China
• Youngest ŠKODA model portfolio ever is very well received
• ŠKODA’s strongest single market is China: a record to 281,400 deliveries
• Model campaign continues in 2015 with new Fabia Estate and new Superb

ŠKODA set a new sales record in 2014. For the first time in its 119-year company history, the brand sold more than one million vehicles. ŠKODA’s worldwide deliveries increased by 12.7 per cent to 1,037,200 vehicles last year (2013: 920,800 deliveries). The global market share improved to 1.4 per cent (2013: 1.3 per cent).

In December alone, global ŠKODA sales increased by 16.9 per cent to 81,900 units (December 2013: 70,000). This was the best December ever in the company’s history. In 2015, the car maker intends to grow further with new models.

‘ŠKODA made good ground in a challenging 2014 environment and has successfully continued to grow,’ said ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. ‘By setting a new sales record and delivering more than one million vehicles for the first time, the brand has established itself in the “Champions League” of international high-volume manufacturers. 

The impact of the biggest model campaign in our company history is getting stronger and stronger. Since 2010, we have redesigned almost the entire model portfolio and expanded into new segments. With our new models, we are increasingly winning over new customer groups. And we won’t take our foot off the accelerator in the coming years,’ said Vahland.

In 2014, the comprehensive model campaign that started four years ago was once again the priority for the Czech manufacturer. ‘The acceptance of our models and of the brand is higher than ever before. We were able to increase our market share in almost every region,’ said Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. 

Back in March, the pioneering “ŠKODA VisionC” concept was the first rocket of last year’s ŠKODA product fireworks. The Octavia G-TEC, Octavia Scout, three special Monte Carlo editions for the Citigo as well as Yeti and Rapid Spaceback followed over the course of 2014. The new ŠKODA Fabia provided the year’s grand finale in November.

The Czech model campaign will not slow down in 2015. From mid-January, the new ŠKODA Fabia Estate will arrive at the first dealerships. The new ŠKODA Superb will receive its world premiere in February in Prague and will then be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. The market launch of the Superb is planned for mid-2015. This new model marks the beginning of a new era for the Czech car manufacturer and is the pinnacle of ŠKODA’s model campaign so far.

In Western Europe,ŠKODA developed better than the market in 2014 and increased deliveries by 11.8 per cent to 413,200. The market share improved to 3.4 per cent (2013: 3.2 per cent). In December, the brand delivered 28,800 vehicles to customers in Western Europe (December 2013: 31,300). In Germany, worldwide the second-strongest market for the manufacturer, ŠKODA increased deliveries by 9.6 per cent to 149,500 in 2014 (2013: 136,400), further improving on its position as the strongest foreign brand there. 

Great Britain saw growth of 15.1 per cent - 76,000 units are a new ŠKODA sales record on the British Isles. The brand also achieved double-digit growth in the Netherlands (18,600 vehicles; plus 36.6 per cent), Belgium (17,800 vehicles; plus 15.0 per cent), Spain (17,800 vehicles; plus 32.5 per cent), Italy (14,200; plus 17.3 per cent), Sweden (13,600 vehicles; plus 10.5 per cent), Ireland (6,300 vehicles; plus 27.5 per cent) and Portugal (2,400 vehicles; plus 32.7 per cent).

In Eastern Europeincluding Russia, ŠKODA delivered a total of 119,200 vehicles to customers in 2014 (2013: 125,400). The brand’s market share improved to 4.3 per cent from 3.9 per cent in 2013. 

In December, ŠKODA achieved 8,300 deliveries in Eastern Europe (December 2013: 12,300). In Russia, ŠKODA delivered 84,400 units in 2014 (2013: 87,500) and market share increased to 3.7 per cent (2013: 3.4 per cent).  ŠKODA saw double-digit growth in Romania (7,300 vehicles; plus 32.6 per cent), in Serbia (5,200 vehicles; plus 24.2 per cent), in Bulgaria (2,100 vehicles; plus 20.4 per cent) and in the Baltic states (5,400 vehicles; plus 16.2 per cent).

ŠKODA performed strongly in Central Europe in 2014. The brand grew by 18.5 per cent to 149,900 deliveries (2013: 126,500). ŠKODA’s market share improved to 19.9 per cent (2013: 19.1 per cent) and sales in their home market, the Czech Republic, increased by 16.9 per cent to 70,200 units (2013: 60,000). 

Double-digit sales increases were also achieved in Poland (46,700 vehicles; plus 20.5 per cent), Slovakia (16,400 vehicles; plus 10.6 per cent), Hungary (8,200 vehicles; plus 12.7 per cent), Slovenia (5,000 vehicles; plus 38.1 per cent) und Croatia (3,400 vehicles; plus 71.9 per cent).

ŠKODA grew at a fast pace in China, its biggest single market worldwide. In 2014 the deliveries of the brand increased by 24.0 per cent to the new record figure of 281,400 vehicles (2013: 227,000). 30,800 vehicle sales in December meant the manufacturer was able to more than triple its deliveries to customers (December 2013: 9,600 deliveries) – that was ŠKODA’s best-ever sales month in China. In 2014, ŠKODA also did very well in Israel (15,100 vehicles; plus 5.1 per cent), in Turkey (14,000 vehicles; plus 9.4 per cent) and in Algeria (11,100 vehicles; plus 21.2 per cent). In India, ŠKODA delivered 15,500 vehicles to customers in 2014 (2013: 22,600).

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in 2014 (in units, rounded, by model; +/- in per cent compared to 2013):

ŠKODA Octavia (389,300; +8.3 %) ŠKODA Fabia (160,500; -20.5 %)  ŠKODA Superb (91,100; -3.5 %)  ŠKODA Citigo (European sales only: 42,500; -6.0 %)

ŠKODA Rapid (221,400; +113.3 %) ŠKODA Yeti (102,900; +24.8 %) ŠKODA Roomster (29,600; -11.0 %)

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in December 2014 (in units, rounded, by model; +/- in per cent compared to December 2013):

ŠKODA Octavia (35,100; +38.1 %)   ŠKODA Fabia (9,700; -32.8 %)    ŠKODA Superb (6,700; +30.7 %) ŠKODA Citigo (European sales only: 2.500; -17.0 %)

ŠKODA Rapid (18,600; +49.7 %) ŠKODA Yeti (7,400; +9.4 %) ŠKODA Roomster (1,900; -32.8 %)