ŠKODA delivered 83,700 vehicles to customers worldwide this July (July 2015: 82,800 vehicles). This corresponds to a growth of 1.0% over the same period last year. The traditional Czech manufacturer made significant gains, particularly in China (up 16.1%) and Russia (up 11.6%). The ŠKODA SUPERB continues to enjoy great popularity, with sales increasing 92.7% over last year.
“ŠKODA’s growth has also continued in July,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “Across all markets, we see that our young model range is appealing increasingly to new consumer groups.” ŠKODA will be consistently expanding their model range over the coming years. In this context, the brand will be strengthening their position in the important SUV segment. The ŠKODA KODIAQ – a new large SUV model above the ŠKODA YETI – will be celebrating its world premiere on 1 September in Berlin; the market launch is set for February 2017.
In Western Europe, delivering 32,700 vehicles, ŠKODA recorded a sales decline of 8.7% in July as expected. This development was mainly due to the break in production at the Czech plants during the three-week factory holiday (4 July to 22 July). In Germany 10,500 customers received their new ŠKODA in July (down 19.7% compared to July 2015). The brand recorded double-digit growth in July in Italy (1,600 vehicles; up 11.0%), Finland (900 vehicles; up 23.1%) and the UK (6,100 vehicles; up 12.5%).
In Central Europe ŠKODA’s July sales were down slightly on last year’s figures with 13,900 delivered (down 4.2%). Here too, the holiday-related break in production at the Czech plants had an expected influence on the sales development. In the brand’s home market, 7,100 customers received their new ŠKODA (down 8.1%). ŠKODA had a positive July, however, in Croatia (July 2016: 300 vehicles; up 45.6%), Hungary (July 2016: 900 vehicles; up 4.5%) and Slovenia (July 2016: 500 vehicles; up 9.6 %).
In Eastern Europe, excluding Russia ŠKODA’s deliveries to customers in July increased 11.2% to 3,100 cars (2015: 2,800 cars). During the same period, ŠKODA’s models enjoyed increasing demand in Russia: Sales volumes increased 11.6% to 4,700 vehicles (July 2015: 4200 vehicles).
Thanks to a completely revised model range, sales in July developed particularly positively in Turkey and Israel; compared to July 2015, deliveries to customers climbed 22.8% to 2,200 vehicles (July 2015: 1,800 vehicles) and 45.8% to 2,700 vehicles (July 2015: 1,800 vehicles) respectively. ŠKODA gained significant market shares in both countries in contrast to the market trend (Turkey: down 29%; Israel: down 11.9%).
In the brand’s strongest global market, China, ŠKODA recorded a significant sales increase compared to the same month last year: Deliveries to customers rose substantially by 16.1% to 21,400 vehicles (July 2015: 18,400 vehicles).
ŠKODA deliveries to customers in July 2016 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in % compared to July 2015):
ŠKODA CITIGO (sold only in Europe: 3,400; -1.7 %)
ŠKODA FABIA (15,500; -13.4 %)
ŠKODA RAPID (16,100; +16.8 %)
ŠKODA OCTAVIA (32,200; -5.7 %)
ŠKODA SUPERB (9,500; +92.7 %)
ŠKODA YETI (7,000; -11.1 %)