Škoda maintains growth
The growth of overall sales at Škoda Auto, the Czech Republic´s largest car manufacturer, continued also in April. The number of vehicles delivered to customers from the beginning of this year grew to 242,078 (+18.6 %). In April alone, the company sold 63,177 vehicles (3.5% more than in April 2009).
The most important factor behind Škoda´s growing sales is the Chinese market where the deliveries in April amounted to 12,108 vehicles, an increase of 31.4 % as compared with the same period of last year. Škoda also did well in other markets – the sales in overseas regions grew by 65.6 %, and by 7.7 % in Eastern Europe, despite the difficult situation. In Western Europe (exclusive of Germany), Škoda´s results were 38 % better as compared with last year.
The brand also saw a major increase in sales in the Czech Republic, its domestic market, where it delivered 5,604 vehicles over April, 24 % more than last year. With 754 units, the fastest growing model in April was the Škoda Octavia Combi Tour (185 last year). Škoda´s April market share in its domestic market grew to 36.59 %.
In Germany, its second biggest market behind China, the Czech car manufacturer delivered altogether 10,199 vehicles to customers over April. “The sales slumped by 35 % as compared with the exceptional year 2009 when the car scrappage scheme was underway, but we still sold 43,268 vehicles from January till April 2010 (7 % more than in 2008, the latest “normal” year), and managed to defend our position as Germany´s No. 1 importer”, said Reinhard Fleger, BOD Member for Sales and Marketing.
The best-selling model in April was the Škoda Octavia (25,111 vehicles; -0.6 %), followed by the Fabia (19,261 vehicles; -18.1 %), the Superb (8,499 vehicles; +163.2 %), the Yeti (4,334 vehicles), the Octavia Tour (3,459 vehicles; -20.8 %) and the Roomster (2,513 vehicles; -46.2 %).