Škoda Reports Best August Sales Ever
Škoda Auto posts a success as the brand reports a 12.1 per cent year-on-year increase in worldwide deliveries in August 2012 for a total of over 67,700 units. This is also the best August figure in the company’s history. From January through August 2012, Škoda’s deliveries to customers rose by 8.5 per cent to over 633,300 (January through August 2011: 583,600).
Bucking the market trend, Škoda grew in Western Europe in August 2012. As the overall market declined by 8.3 per cent, Škoda deliveries advanced 1.2 per cent to over 21,700 (August 2011: 21,400). In Germany, Europe’s strongest individual market, the brand’s sales rose by 10.1 per cent to 9,200. An estimated market share of more than four per cent in August again makes Škoda Germany’s strongest automobile importer. In Great Britain, Škoda deliveries increased by 11.7 per cent in the same period.
Škoda posted repeated strong growth in Eastern Europe in August 2012 as sales rose 53.2 per cent year on year to a total of 11,300 (August 2011: 7,300). This stronger-than-the-market growth increased Škoda’s market share in Eastern Europe to 4.07 per cent in August (August 2011: 2.83 per cent). Once again, Russia proved Eastern Europe’s strongest market in August 2012 as Škoda increased sales in the country by 68.3 per cent to 8,300 (August 2011: 4,900).
Škoda also fared well in Eastern Central Europe as the brand sales grew by 8.3 per cent to 8,500 in August 2012: These improved Škoda’s market share to 18.16 per cent (August 2011: 15.90 per cent). As car sales in Škoda’s home market the Czech Republic declined overall, Škoda’s sales rose by 6.2 per cent to 4,300 in August 2012 (August 2011: 4,000).
Škoda kept growing on the Chinese market in August 2012 as sales rose 4.5 per cent year-on-year to about 19,700 (August 2011: 18,800).
In August, Škoda’s sales in India increased by 8.8 per cent to over 2,200 (August 2011: 2,100). Consequently, Škoda’s market share in India rose to 1.37 per cent. At 1,400 sold, the compact saloon the Škoda Rapid accounted for close to two thirds of Škoda sales in India in August. The Rapid has been a success in the country since the introduction of an Indian variant in late 2011.