The brand’s worldwide deliveries grew 15.2% in May to 91,200 vehicles (May 2013: 79,100), making this May the best in corporate history and the ninth month in a row of continuous growth. Western and Central Europe were driving force behind the growth increasing by a quarter. In China the brand achieved 10.8% more deliveries than in May last year. The new ŠKODA Octavia continued to win the hearts of customers, with an increase of 76% in Western Europe, and Chinese customers are looking forward to its imminent market launch.
“The excellent results from May continue the success seen so far in 2014,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “ŠKODA is in the middle of the most comprehensive model campaign in the history of the company. The figures show how well the new cars are being received by our customers. We are picking up the pace and will be bringing out a new or completely revised model on average every six months until 2016.”
The new ŠKODA Octavia G-TEC has been celebrating its sales premiere over the past few days. This car is the first Octavia to run on natural gas. The new ŠKODA Octavia Scout is to be launched on the first markets in August. The brand is also expanding the successful Monte Carlo Family with three new Monte Carlo models of the ŠKODA Yeti, ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback and ŠKODA Citigo. The new ŠKODA Octavia is soon going to be launched on the Chinese market.
ŠKODA demonstrated its full strength this May in Western Europe. Deliveries to customers rose 25.2% to 37,900 vehicles (Mai 2013: 30,300) – at the same time, the brand’s market share in this region increased 20.4% to 3.57%. ŠKODA grew in almost all Western European markets. In Germany ŠKODA’s sales increased 26.7% to 13,800 units. ŠKODA has once again confirmed the brand’s number one position among import brands in its strongest European market. In the UK, the manufacturer achieved a sales increase of 28.5% to 6,800 vehicles sold in May alone.
ŠKODA also recorded double-digit growth in France (1,800 vehicles; up 21.1%), Spain (1,800 vehicles; up 39%), Switzerland (1,600 vehicles, up 33%), Belgium (1,700 vehicles; up 22.2 %), the Netherlands (1,500 vehicles, up 51.9%), Denmark (1,500 vehicles, up 14.7%), Italy (1,300 vehicles; up 12.7%), Finland (1,000 vehicles, up 28.4%), Norway (700 vehicles; up 69.2%), Portugal (300 vehicles; up 49.7%) and Greece (300 vehicles; up 48.5%).
In May in Eastern Europe, ŠKODA sold 10,400 vehicles after 10,900 deliveries in Mai 2013. In Russia the brand sold 7,600 vehicles (Mai 2013: 7,600). However, the manufacturer did achieve double-digit growth in the markets of Romania (700 vehicles; up 38.8%), Serbia (500 vehicles; up 62.3%) and in the Baltic States (500 vehicles; up 35.1%).
ŠKODA grew by a quarter in May in Central Europe, where deliveries to customers increased by 25.3% to 13,200 vehicles (May 2013: 10,600). In Czech Republic, ŠKODA grew by 13.3% to 5,800 vehicles delivered (May 2013: 5,100). In Croatia, the brand almost recorded a six-fold increase in sales to 700 vehicles. In Poland, ŠKODA achieved an increase of 30.6% to 4,000 deliveries (May 2013: 3,100). The manufacturer also saw double-digit increases in Hungary (800 vehicles; up 41.9%) and Slovenia (500 vehicles; up 50.5%).
China was once again ŠKODA’s strongest individual market. 23,200 deliveries to customers represents growth of 10.8% over May 2013 (21,000). This May, ŠKODA sold 900 vehicles in India (Mai 2013: 1,800).
ŠKODA deliveries to customers in May 2014 (in units, rounded off, by model; +/- in % over May 2013):
ŠKODA Octavia (32,800; +12.0%)
ŠKODA Fabia (14,700; -22.4%)
ŠKODA Superb (8,200; -5.2%)
ŠKODA Yeti (9,700; +26.4%)
ŠKODA Roomster (2,500; -20.3%)
ŠKODA Rapid (19,500; +158.8%)
ŠKODA Citigo (sold only in Europe: 3.900; -3.3%)