Skoda 2011 worldwide sales up by 15.3 per cent to 879,200 vehicles

Skoda continued on its successful course, achieving a new sales record in FY 2011. The brand’s sales increased by 15.3 per cent to a new all-time high of 879,200 vehicles. Deliveries to customers rose by around 116,000 units in 2011, translating into
a rise of more than 1.4 per cent in world market share (2010: close to 1.3 per cent).

Between January and December 2011, Skoda sold 879,200 vehicles worldwide (2010: 762,200). As the world market grew 5.1 per cent (almost 62 million vehicles), Skoda outpaced the industry, advancing by 15.3 per cent. The brand made significant progress in China, India and Russia. In many European markets as in the rest of the world, Skoda achieved a new record for the year. In the UK the overall total of 45,061 means Skoda’s share of the UK new car market has grown from 2 per cent to 2.3 per cent in a single year.

Skoda also succeeded in expanding deliveries in all sales regions worldwide. In Central and Eastern Europe, for example, deliveries rose to 231,600 units (2010: 194,800, +18.9 per cent), and in Asia/the Pacific to 256,100 vehicles (2010: 203,300 +26 per cent) in FY 2011. “In 2011, Skoda sold more vehicles than ever before,” says Jurgen Stackmann, Skoda’s Board Member for Sales and Marketing, added, “We improved in every region and strengthened our position in the markets.”

“This was the year in which we first implemented our 2018 growth strategy, and we did so impressively,” says Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. H.C. Winfried Vahland. “We clearly picked up speed and set a new sales record. We also greatly improved our production, sales and international market presence and once again gained significant ground in both our European home and growth markets.”

879,200 cars delivered worldwide in FY 2011 mark an all-time best and translate into a total market share of 1.4 per cent. Skoda’s next goal is defined clearly - by 2018, worldwide sales are to rise to at least 1.5 million per year. “The company has laid some excellent foundations for this in 2011. In 2012, we will continue to expand Skoda’s model range significantly and further strengthen our activities both in Europe and in international markets,” says Prof. Vahland.

Dynamic growth markets
Skoda set a new record in Russia, too, in FY 2011: 74,100 cars sold (2010: 45,600) is equivalent to an increase by 62.5 per cent.

In China, sales continued to show a clear upward trend, rising by 21.9 per cent to 220,100 units in FY 2011.

The Rapid, introduced in India in November, had a good start in  the market and was immediately chosen the country’s family car of the year. The Indian market, an important pillar for the brand’s growth strategy, showed a very positive development throughout FY 2011, with Skoda boosting sales by 49.9 per cent, to more than 30,000 units.

Expanding capacity - both at home and abroad
Skoda is expanding and investing in new models, markets and capacities. As part of this, the main factory in Mladá Boleslav is to be expanded considerably by mid-2012. On completion of this expansion, the plant is to produce a third model in addition to the Fabia and Octavia bestsellers. In parallel, production capacity of the Octavia at the plant will rise from 800 to 1200 vehicles daily. Skoda’s Vrchlabí plant in the Czech Republic will begin production of direct-shift gearboxes (DSGs) for VW group brands Volkswagen, SEAT and Audi from late 2012.

At VW Group’s Russian plant in Nizhny Novgorod, VW Group Russia will manufacture the Skoda Yeti with Russian partner GAZ. In China, both of VW Group’s joint ventures will be investing around 14 billion Euros in new plants and products by 2016. Currently the Skoda Fabia, Octavia and Superb are manufactured in China, with the Yeti to be added in 2013. These investments are to pave the way for the company’s growth in the coming years.

“We are very confident regarding our positive future development. This is why we are investing further in our factories both at home and abroad as well as in the expansion of our sales organisations in all regions. And of course, we want to outdo our competitors,” explains sales board member Stackmann.

Model offensive under way
The Citigo subcompact and the Indian compact, the Rapid, both successfully launched as the first models in Skoda’s model offensive at the end of 2011. For Skoda, the Citigo opens up the fast growing subcompact segment - exclusively in the Czech Republic in 2011, with more countries following from 2012 onward.  The Rapid is also a crucial factor in the brand’s growth strategy, creating a presence for Skoda in the Indian market’s largest segment.

Deliveries to Customers in 2011 (Skoda models compared to 2010)
Octavia (372,900 vehicles/+16.9 per cent)
Fabia (266,800 vehicles/+16.5 per cent)
Superb (116,700 vehicles/+18.1 per cent)
Yeti (70,300 vehicles/+33.7 per cent)
Roomster (36,000 vehicles/+11.4 per cent)
Rapid/India (1,700 vehicles)
Citigo/Czech Republic (more than 500 vehicles)

Posted in: Sale Report,Skoda