ŠKODA delivered 79,100 vehicles worldwide in May, 2013 – 2.9% down on May 2012. ŠKODA was able to gain shares of European markets in May. In the first five months of 2013 the Czech manufacturer achieved sales of 377,200 vehicles. The production start-up of the new Octavia and Octavia Combi as well as the revised Superb had a slightly dampening effect on sales. Additionally, the continuing overall weak situation in European markets had a negative impact on the results in May.
“The largest model offensive in ŠKODA’s corporate history has been launched successfully and will be implemented step by step”, explains ŠKODA CEO, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. He continues, “We will be vigorously pursuing our growth strategy in the upcoming months even though the situation on the European markets in particular remains tough. Our customers are enthusiastic about the new models. We are confident that our sales figures will once again be in the plus in the second half of the year after the production launch of our new models.” In 2013 ŠKODA will be introducing a total of eight new or revised models, including the new Octavia Saloon, Combi, 4×4 and the sporty RS as well as the remodelled Superb, both as a saloon and combi.
In Western Europe, ŠKODA made 30,300 customer deliveries in May, which was a slight decrease of 2.3% on May, 2012. In the first five months of 2013 the Czech car manufacturer outperformed the Western European market generally and increased their market share to 3 %. In Germany, the market share grew to 4.4% in the first five months, making ŠKODA once again the strongest importer on the German market. The brand also made significant gains in their second strongest Western European market with sales of 5,300 vehicles in the UK in May – an increase of 12.4% on the same month in 2012. In May ŠKODA’s deliveries also developed dynamically in Denmark (+82.4%) and in Finland (+36.3%).
ŠKODA delivered over 10,900 vehicles to Eastern Europe in May (Mai 2012: 12,100; -9.7%). ŠKODA’s market share grew to 4.2% in May. Once again, by far the strongest Eastern European market was Russia with more than 7,600 deliveries (May 2012: 8,500; -9.7%). With a total of 33,700 deliveries to Russian customers (January to May 2013, -7.4%), Russia reaffirmed its position as the ŠKODA’s third-largest market worldwide after China and Germany in the first five months of 2013.
In Central Europe, ŠKODA’s deliveries totalled 10,600 units in May – down slightly on last year’s figures (May 2012: 10,800; -1.9%). The market share grew to 18.7%. With 5,100 cars delivered in May, ŠKODA maintained the sales figures of last year in their Czech home market (May 2012: 5,200; -0.4%). Their market share grew to 34.5%.
China was once again ŠKODA’s strongest individual market in May 21,000 customer deliveries (May 2012: also 21,000 deliveries; -0.3%). Between January and May the brand sold 99,100 vehicles in China, which is a slight decrease of 1.5% on the same period in 2012. ŠKODA wishes to increase sales in China in the coming months. The Czechs intend to place the new ŠKODA Rapid as well as the newly imported ŠKODA Yeti and ŠKODA Superb Combi alongside the existing model range in China.
ŠKODA’s deliveries to customers – May 2013 (in units, rounded to the nearest 100 and arranged according to model; +/- % compared to May 2012):
ŠKODA Octavia (29,300; -20.0%)
ŠKODA Fabia (18,900; -11.0%)
ŠKODA Superb (8,600; -8.7%)
ŠKODA Yeti (7,600; +0.1%)
ŠKODA Roomster (3,100; -1.9%)
ŠKODA Rapid (7,500; new model)
ŠKODA Citigo (sold only in Europe: 4,100; +143.2%)