Škoda Auto Continues Growth in July

Škoda Auto continued to grow in July 2012. Despite an increasingly challenging economic environment, the brand increased its deliveries to customers by six per cent year on year to 72,600 (July 2011: 68,500). This is the best July sales result in the company’s 117-year history. From January through July 2012, sales rose by a total of 8.1 per cent year on year to 565,600 (January through July 2011: 523,200).

Despite a difficult overall market, the brand advanced significantly in major markets of Western Europe: in Great Britain in July 2012, Škoda delivered more than 20 per cent more cars year on year. In Denmark, too, (+24.7 per cent), Belgium (+8.2 per cent), Norway (+6.6 per cent) and France (+6.2 per cent), ŠKODA grew markedly. In Western Europe overall, Škoda sold almost 25,300 cars in July 2012 (-7.1 per cent).

In Eastern Europe, Škoda again scored significant increases in July (11,400 units; +26.8 per cent). In Russia, the brand was extraordinarily strong in July, as it had been throughout the first half of the year. Sales rose 42 per cent to a total of 8,700 (July 2011: 6,100). Škoda’s market share in Russia rose significantly over the first seven months of 2012, reaching around 3.5 per cent.

In Eastern Central Europe, Škoda bucked a declining trend in the overall market and made an excellent showing in July (9,600 units; +2.9 per cent). The brand’s market share at the end of the first seven months of 2012 was up to almost 18.8 per cent. In its home market the Czech Republic, Škoda sold 4,500 cars in July, up 2.9 per cent year on year (July 2011: 4,400). In Croatia (+21.4 per cent) and Hungary (+19.2 per cent), the brand posted strongly double-digit growth, in Slovakia, it advanced 8.8 per cent.

Škoda continued growing on the Chinese market. Deliveries to customers there rose 6.6 per cent in July 2012 to over 19,000 (July 2011: 17,800). This confirmed China’s status as the brand’s strongest individual market.

In India, Škoda further strengthened its position in July 2012. A growth of 22.6 per cent to over 2,800 means the brand again outgrew the overall market (+13.5 per cent), with the new compact saloon the Škoda Rapid continuing its success story on the market, around 1,800 in going to Indian customers in July. This means that in July, this compact saloon, which is especially popular with families, accounted for two thirds of the brand’s sales.

Škoda's sales also advanced significantly in other markets in July: in Turkey, they were up 80.6 per cent, in Australia, up 43.9 per cent and in Israel, up 41.9 per cent up.