The FINANCIAL — Recording their best first quarter and strongest single month in the company’s 121-year history, ŠKODA highlights their growth in March: Between January and March 2016, the Czech automaker delivered 276,600 vehicles to customers, which is 4.3% more than in the same period last year.
Delivering 106,300 units to customers worldwide in March (March 2015: 102,100; up 4.2%), the company sold more vehicles than ever before in a single calendar month. The positive developments in the core markets of China and Europe – with double-digit growth in numerous individual markets – also contributed to their record sales figures, including the significant gains of the ŠKODA Fabia, Superb and Yeti model series, according to Volkswagen.
“With the best first quarter and the best single month in our corporate history, ŠKODA is building on the successful development of sales in 2015. We are optimistic for the coming months, taking into consideration our growth in China and Europe, as well as the success of the new ŠKODA Superb, and the Fabia and Yeti models. At the same time, the situation remains tense in some markets, particularly Russia,” says ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing Werner Eichhorn.
ŠKODA achieved significant growth in March and the first quarter in Western Europe. In March deliveries rose by 6.4% to 49,600 (March 2015: 46,600). In the first three months of the year, the brand improved their sales by 8.5% to 115,000 vehicles sold (first quarter of 2015: 106,000). ŠKODA’s market share reached 3.2%. In Germany – ŠKODA’s second strongest market worldwide – the brand’s sales increased by 5.1% to 16,300 vehicles in March (March 2015: 15,500), and in the first quarter by 7.8% to 38,900 vehicles (2015: 36,100). ŠKODA has strengthened their position in Germany as the number-one automobile importer. In March, the Czech car manufacturer also recorded double-digit growth in France (2300 vehicles; up 27.1%), Belgium (2200 vehicles; up 31.3%), Italy (2100 cars; up 20.9%), Ireland (1500 vehicles; up 28.1%) Sweden (1400 vehicles; up 10.1%), Netherlands (1400 vehicles; up 18.6%) and Portugal (400 vehicles; up 50.0%).
ŠKODA also recorded significant growth in Central Europe. In March, the brand sold 16,500 vehicles in this region – an up of 8.1% compared to the previous March (15,300). In the first quarter, deliveries increased by 6.8% to 46,100 vehicles (first quarter of 2015: 43,200). In their Czech home market, ŠKODA’s sales in March increased by 9.0% to 8,000 units (March 2015: 7300), and in the first quarter by 8.3% to 21,900 vehicles (first quarter of 2015: 20,200). Also, in Poland (5100 vehicles; up 10.6%), Slovakia (1600 vehicles; up 7.2%) and Slovenia (600 vehicles; up 9.3%) ŠKODA sold more cars than in March 2015.
In Eastern Europe, excluding Russia, ŠKODA sold 3000 vehicles in March (March 2015: 2500) and thus 17.6% more than the same month last year. In the first quarter, the brand delivered 7400 vehicles to customers (first quarter of 2015: 6900, up 6.8%). ŠKODA’s market share had risen to 8.0% by the end of March (first quarter of 2015: 6.9%). Despite the challenging market conditions in Russia, ŠKODA delivered 4800 vehicles in March (March 2015: 4600); in the first quarter the manufacturer sold 12,500 vehicles (January to March 2015: 15,300). ŠKODA’s share of the Russian market stood at 4.2% in the first quarter (first quarter of 2015: 4.2%). Among other regions, ŠKODA achieved double-digit growth in Romania (900 vehicles; up 23.1%), Bulgaria (200 vehicles; up 13.6%) and Bosnia (100 vehicles; up 10.3%).
In the company’s strongest global market, China, ŠKODA deliveries increased by 1.3% to 25,600 vehicles in March (March 2015: 25,200). In the first quarter, ŠKODA’s deliveries increased by 5.2% to 75,400 vehicles (January to March 2015: 71,700 vehicles). By the end of March, ŠKODA had a 1.4% share of the Chinese market. ŠKODA achieved high rates of growth in March in Israel (1800 vehicles; up 16.1%), Taiwan (400 vehicles; up 80.8%) and New Zealand (100 vehicles; up 41.6%). Turkey is another important market for the brand with 2100 deliveries (up 0.7%). In India, the manufacturer achieved 1400 deliveries in March (March 2015: 1.500; down 6.9%). In the first quarter, 3700 customers opted for a ŠKODA (January to March 2015: 4100).
In terms of model series, the brand’s flagship, the ŠKODA Superb, the subcompact Fabia and the compact SUV Yeti achieved above-average growth rates. This March, the mid-class Superb series achieved an increase of 79.3% over the previous March with 13,000 units sold. Between January and March, sales of the Superb increased 69.8% to 32,200 compared to the first quarter of 2015. This positive development is attributable to the base effect resulting from the discontinuation of its predecessor last year. The Fabia achieved significant growth both in March (20,500 vehicles; up 21.6%), as well as in the first quarter (49,500 vehicles; up 28.5%). The Yeti also recorded positive developments, with sales of 10,600 in March (up 14.6%) and 26,900 vehicles (up 16,9%) in the first quarter of 2016.
ŠKODA deliveries to customers in March 2016 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in % compared to March 2015):
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 4500; -0.9 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (20,500; +21.6 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (18,300; -10.4 %)
ŠKODA Octavia (39,400; -2.4 %)
ŠKODA Superb (13,000; +79.3 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (10.600; +14.6 %)
ŠKODA deliveries to customers in the first quarter of 2016 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in % compared to the first quarter of 2015):
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 9700; +0.5 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (49.500; +28.5 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (48.500; -12.6 %)
ŠKODA Octavia (109.900; -1.8 %)
ŠKODA Superb (32.200; +69.8 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (26.900; +16.9 %)
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