Not only did the Czech brands make gains in major individual markets such as Germany and the UK, but also in Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Italy. Despite the generally difficult economic situation, the Czech manufacturer reached vehicle sales of 69,700 in July (July 2012: 72,600; -4.0 %). Between January and July 2013 ŠKODA made 534,300 vehicle deliveries to customers (January to July 2012: 565,600; -5.5 %). ŠKODA’s sales development in 2013 has been influenced by the start of production and corresponding reduction in capacity of the new ŠKODA Octavia model range and the renewed ŠKODA Superb. The third generation of the ŠKODA Octavia has proved to be a hit with a higher number of orders coming in than expected.
"The new ŠKODA models have been a great success with our customers worldwide", says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. He continues, “We were able to increase our deliveries to customers in Western Europe by almost five per cent in July, in the largest European individual market, Germany, by as much as ten per cent. The development of orders across the globe is particularly encouraging. We can see that the model campaign is really paying off.” The next highlight will be at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September with the world premiere of the all new Yeti, as well as the new compact hatchback ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback. With the Rapid Spaceback, ŠKODA is offering for the first time a hatchback model in the high-volume compact car segment.
In Western Europe, ŠKODA once again outperformed the market as a whole and delivered 26,500 vehicles to customers in July; up 4.8% on July 2012 with 25,300 ŠKODAs delivered. In the first seven months of the year, the brand’s market share in Western Europe rose to more than three per cent. On the second largest market for ŠKODA worldwide, Germany, the Czech manufacturer sold more than 9,600 vehicles; up 10.2% on the same month last year with 8,700 units. ŠKODA thus strengthens their position as the strongest import brand in Germany. In the UK, a total of 4,900 vehicles were delivered to customers, which is 16.9% more than in July 2012. The brand also recorded double-digit growth numbers in Denmark with almost 1,200 sales (July 2012: 700 vehicles; up 59.8%), in Finland, with over 700 cars delivered (July 2012: 500; up 47.2%), as well as in Italy, with almost 900 ŠKODAs (July 2012: 700; up 25.4%). In Ireland, with a total of almost 700 cars, ŠKODA sales rose by 162.2% (July 2012: 200).
In Eastern Europe, ŠKODA sold over 10,000 cars in July (July 2012: 11,400; -12.4%). In the Ukraine, the brand made 1,100 sales, which was up 21.6% on July 2012 (900 vehicles). Russia remains the Eastern European number-one strongest market, where ŠKODA delivered 6,800 vehicles to customers (July 2012: 8,700; -21.8%). With 49,700 ŠKODAs sold (January to July 2013; -9.2%), Russia has continued to be the third largest sales market for ŠKODA throughout the first seven months of the year.
In Central Europe, ŠKODA sales stood at 9,500 vehicles in July (July 2012: 9,600; -0.5%). ŠKODA sold more than 4,500 vehicles on the Czech home market (July 2012: 4,500). ŠKODA’s market share in the Czech Republic grew in the first seven months to 34.4 %.
China was the brand’s strongest sales market in July. ŠKODA sold 18,000 vehicles here last month, which was down only slightly on the 2012 figures of 19,000 (-5.5%). The Czech brand delivered a total of 138,200 cars to Chinese customers in the first seven months of the year (January to July 2012: 139,700). This temporary decline in China is related to the model changeovers and correspondingly lower production capacities. The new models, such as the recently launched ŠKODA Rapid, are not yet fully available.
ŠKODA customer deliveries in July 2013
(in units, listed by model, +/- per cent against July 2012):
ŠKODA Octavia (27.500; -16.1 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (16,000; -5.6 %)
ŠKODA Superb (7,300; -11.6 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (5,100; -21.9 %)
ŠKODA Roomster (2,600; -11.8 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (7,600; new model)
ŠKODA Citigo (sold only in Europe: 3,700; +8.1 %)