ŠKODA Achieves New Sales Record In The First Half Of The Year

›  Sales rising 20.1 percent to 454,700 units compared to last year

›  Strongest June in the company’s history with 81,300 vehicles

›  Increases in all regions

›  Implementation of the growth strategy successfully started in the first half of the year

Mladá Boleslav, July 13^th, 2011 – ŠKODA has achieved a new sales record in the first half of 2011. Compared to the first half of 2010, sales rose 20.1 percent worldwide to 454,700 units (January – June 2010: 378,700 vehicles). At the same time, the Czech manufacturer recorded the best June sales record of its history with 81,300 sold vehicles (last year: 71,300) and a new monthly sales record for the fourth time in a row. The dynamic development of the brand in the growth markets continues unabated. Thus, sales in China reached a new record in the first half of the year. In Russia, ŠKODA has never sold as many cars within a single month as it did in June.

“In the first half of the year, ŠKODA has shown a strong performance in all areas and in all regions,” explained Jürgen Stackmann, the ŠKODA board member for sales and marketing. “In the first six months, we have succeeded to implement the growth strategy, which was begun last year, in impressive style and to deliver results. We are growing at a high rate and have created an outstanding basis for further increases. ŠKODA is well on track and continues to hit the gas pedal. In the coming years, the brand will introduce a number of new models in the markets and significantly expand its model range.”

In an overall downward Czech market ŠKODA sold 5,400 vehicles in June. The Octavia and the Fabia are among the ŠKODA models with the highest demand in its home market and occupy the first two places in the statistics of new car registrations in the Czech Republic.

In June, the brand also achieved high growth rates in other markets of Central and Eastern Europe. In the Ukraine, sales increased 64.8 percent. Poland rose 9.1 percent, Slovenia 52 percent.

In Western Europe, ŠKODA grew at double digits: With a plus of 11.1 percent, the brand was able to expand its market share and recorded sales of 35,100 units in June. Deliveries developed particularly well in Belgium with aplus of 48.2 percent and in the Netherlands with a plus of 38.8 percent. In Great Britain, sales rose 18.7 percent, in Denmark 15.8 percent, and in Switzerland 13.2 percent.

ŠKODA’s growth dynamic continues to be high in the growth markets of Russia, India, and China. In the Chinese market, the manufacturer achieved a new half year sales record in the first six months of 2011 with 112,200 sold vehicles. In June alone, deliveries in China rose 25.8 percent to 19,100 units. The Superb in particular was in hot demand as sales increased 42.7 percent. In Russia, ŠKODA achieved the best monthly sales result ever with a plus von 33.6 percent and more than 7,000 sold vehicles, making it the fourth best sales month in a row. In India, ŠKODA grew almost 50 percent (plus 48.1 percent) in June, selling 2,300 units.

ŠKODA also maintains a high growth rate in other markets beyond Europe. Thus, the manufacturer reached a new monthly sales record in Australia in June.

Deliveries to customers in June 2011 (ŠKODA models compared to June 2010):

Octavia (34,500 vehicles / plus 20.0 percent), Fabia (24,800 vehicles / plus 17.1 percent), Superb (10,900 vehicles / plus 13.9 percent), Yeti (6,300 vehicles / plus
23.5 percent), Roomster (3,300 vehicles / plus 4.9 percent).