ŠKODA: First quarter of 2013 closes with sales revenue of 2.4 billion EUR

In the first quarter of 2013, ŠKODA has recorded sales revenue of 2.4 billion EUR, the operating profit has reached 112 million EUR. Until the end of March 2013, the brand delivered 220,400 vehicles, 9.2 percent less than in the first quarter of 2012. The financial results and the sales figures of the company in the first quarter of 2013 are characterized by the model change and the start of production of the new ŠKODA Octavia. Moreover, the business result was influenced by the lasting weak development of the European automobile market.

In the first three months of the year, ŠKODA’s sales results have reached 2.4 billion EUR, a decrease of 17.2 percent when compared to the same period of the previous year (2.9 billion EUR). The operating profit amounted to 112 million EUR (first quarter of 2012: 209 million EUR), the operating return on sales was 4.6 percent (same quarter last year:7.2 percent).

“For ŠKODA, 2013 has a special meaning as the year of new models. In total, we will introduce eight new ŠKODA automobiles to our customers, as many as never before in the history of ŠKODA,” says the chairman of the board of ŠKODA, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland.” With the new ŠKODA Octavia, the year has already seen the changeover of our most important model series,” Vahland continued. Due to the start of production, our capacities were not yet fully available in the first quarter. At the same time, the continued weak state of some European markets had an effect on the sales situation. “However, we generally remain confident for the year. With a total of four new models in the new Octavia series to be launched until the summer as well as four other new or completely revised models in the second half of the year, we will emphatically continue our model offensive,” says Vahland.

The company’s investments reached the amount of 84 million EUR in the first quarter of 2013. During the same period, net liquidity amounted to 1.6 billion EUR. “In an environment that is anything but easy, ŠKODA has achieved solid business figures and continues to remain profitable,” emphasized Winfried Krause, ŠKODA’s board member for finances. “The new models will boost our sales in the second half of the year. At the same time, it is more important than ever to work in a very cost-conscious way,” said the head of finances.