OREANDA-NEWS. ŠKODA has recorded sustained growth throughout the first half of the year. Between January and June, deliveries to customers around the world increased 4.2% to 544,300 vehicles (first half of 2014: 522,500). This is once again a new sales record for the Czech car manufacturer in the first half of the year. In June, the ŠKODA brand delivered 94,600 vehicles to customers (up 0.1% compared to June 2014). The latest generation ŠKODA Fabia and Superb have got off to an excellent start. In the first six months of 2015, sales of the ŠKODA Fabia in Western Europe increased by 24.3% and the ŠKODA Superb hatchback by 30.6%.

“This has been a challenging but successful first half of the year for ŠKODA,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “In June, we were able to maintain the high level we set this time last year. This result demonstrates the non-uniform developments of some markets. On balance, the positive sales trends in Western and Central Europe have been able to compensate for the weaker state of the Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese markets.”

The ŠKODA brand is on top form in Western Europe. In June, the company’s deliveries to customers increased 9.3% to 42,700 (June 2014: 39,100). In the first half of the year, ŠKODA recorded growth of 3.5% to 225,500 vehicles delivered (January to June 2014: 217.900). In Germany, ŠKODA’s strongest European market, the manufacturer’s sales increased by 13.5% to 17,000 vehicles; in the first six months by 5.6% to 80,900 deliveries. This has strengthened ŠKODA’s position as the strongest import brand in this market. ŠKODA recorded double-digit growth rates in the first half of the year in Spain (12,300 vehicles; up 25.0%), Italy (9200 vehicles; up 18.5%), Sweden (7600 vehicles; up 14.9%), Switzerland (10,200 vehicles; plus 11.5%), Ireland (5200 vehicles; up 16.3%) and Portugal (1800 vehicles; up 26.3%).

In Eastern Europe, including Russia, ŠKODA delivered 7300 vehicles this June (June 2014: 11,100) and 44,000 vehicles to customers in the first six months of 2015 (January to June 2014: 58,700). ŠKODA’s market share in Eastern Europe had increased to 4.6% by the end of June (first half of 2014: 4.2%). On the Russian market, ŠKODA sold 4400 vehicles this June after 7900 in the same month last year (minus 43.9%). Between January and June, the brand’s sales in Russia stood at 28,000 vehicles (January to June 2014: 42,000 vehicles; minus 33.3%). ŠKODA recorded double-digit growth in the first half of 2015 in Romania (4200 vehicles; up 25.9%), Serbia (3000 vehicles; up 10.7%), Bulgaria (1300 vehicles; up 32.7%) and in the Baltic States (3100 vehicles; up 20.0%).

ŠKODA once again achieved strong growth in Central Europe. Deliveries to customers increased by 14.9% to 15,300 vehicles this June (June 2014: 13,300) and over the first six months of the year by 13.2% to 88,900 vehicles (January to June 2014: 78,600). ŠKODA’s market share in Central Europe had reached 21.3% by the end of June (first half of 2014: 20.3%). On the brand’s home market, the Czech Republic, sales increased 24.3% to 7600 vehicles delivered in June (June 2014: 6200). Over the first six months, ŠKODA’s deliveries increased 22.9% to 42,800 units in the Czech Republic (January to June 2014: 34,800). The manufacturer also recorded double-digit growth over the first six months of 2015 in Hungary (5200 vehicles; up 20.3%) and Slovenia (3000 vehicles; up 15.8%).

In China, ŠKODA recorded a sale increase of 5.8% to 138,300 deliveries in the first half of the year (first half of 2014: 130,700). In June, the brand delivered 20,000 vehicles to customers (June 2014: 23,600; minus 15.2%). ŠKODA also recorded growth in India. In June, deliveries increased by 39.0% to 1300 units (June 2014: 1.000), in the first half of the year by 4.3% to 8000 deliveries (first half of 2014: 7700). ŠKODA more than doubled their sales in Turkey (11,700 vehicles; up 112.0%) and Egypt (5400 vehicles; up 106.5%). The brand recorded growth into the double digits in Israel (10,100 vehicles; up 23.0%), Australia (2400 vehicles; up 30.2%), Taiwan (1400 vehicles; up 41.4%) and New Zealand (600 vehicles; up 30.1%).

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in June 2015 (in units, rounded off, by model; +/- in percent compared to June 2014):

ŠKODA Octavia (38,000; +11.0 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (16,700; -20.5 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (19,000; +28.0 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (9000; -8.1 %)
ŠKODA Superb (6000; -25.8 %)
ŠKODA Roomster (1500; -41.0 %)
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 4400; +8.6 %)

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in the first half of 2015 (in units, rounded off, by model; +/- in percent compared to the first half of 2014):

ŠKODA Octavia (223,800; +14.9 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (108,100; +5.6 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (91,900; +4.5 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (47,000; -11.2 %)
ŠKODA Superb (38,700; -16.5 %)
ŠKODA Roomster (14,300; -7.9 %)
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 20,600; -8.9 %)