Skoda News: 2012

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Canary Islands Rally dominated by ŠKODA vehicles

› Fantastic battle between winner Kopecký and second-placed Mikkelsen up until the very end of the rally
› Second consecutive double for ŠKODA
› ŠKODA and Mikkelsen in Fabias top the IRC standings
› Another very good result for Sepp Wiegand

Las Palmas, 17 March 2012 –Taking place on asphalt roads in Gran Canaria, the second event of this year´s IRC championship offered a thrilling spectacle. The fans saw a fierce battle for every second between winner Jan Kopecký of ŠKODA Motorsport and second-placed Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport. Although Mikkelsen had a 3.6 second lead after the last-but-one stage, it was Jan Kopecký who celebrated victory in the end. ŠKODA has thus achieved a second consecutive double to reinforce its lead in the Manufacturers category and Mikkelsen tops the standings in the Drivers category.

Fierce battle between Kopecký and Mikkelsen in the Canary Islands

› Tough fight for every second
› Kopecký is 1.2 seconds ahead of second-placed Mikkelsen after Leg 1
› Leg 2 on Saturday will offer six stages (102 km)
› Video coverage available on www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda

ŠKODA repeats double-digit growth in February

› ŠKODA sales up 13.1 per cent to 72,100 cars
› World market share grows to almost 1.5 per cent
› Advances in all sales regions, with especially strong growth in Europe, China and India; ŠKODA now one of the top brands in Switzerland
› New ŠKODA Citigo introduced as five-door version in Geneva

ŠKODA ready to win some more points in the Canary Islands

› Kopecký & Dresler to make their first appearance in this year´s IRC in the Canary Islands
› Asphalt event taking place on the island of Gran Canaria over March 15-17
› The list of drivers to appear on the start line includes Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport
› Up-to-the-minute news will be available on www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda

Mladá Boleslav, 12 March, 2012 – ŠKODA is ready to confirm its calibre in the second event of this year´s IRC Championship to take place in Gran Canaria and take another step to winning its third IRC title. Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team) will make their first appearance in this year´s IRC series. The Canary Islands will also see reigning IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen in a Fabia Super 2000.

ŠKODA ready to win some more points in the Canary Islands

A great show: Citigo meets ‘Tiësto’

› ŠKODA presents the Citigo and Tiësto
› Refreshing salon debut for the small ŠKODA at the press conference in Geneva
› New entry into growing subcompact segment, new customer groups targeted
› Attractive design endows Citigo with character

Mladá Boleslav/Geneva, March 6th, 2012 – “Showtime!” for the new Citigo: Czech car maker ŠKODA’s innovative Citigo subcompact pulled up for its first major auto show presentation at the Geneva auto salon featuring a performance by the legendary DJ and producer, Tiësto. Under the “Meet Citigo” theme, the Citigo rolled on stage in its three- and five-door versions while a special edited version of Tiësto’s music video “What Can We Do (A Deeper Love),” produced exclusively for the Citigo, played throughout the conference. The full music video can be viewed exclusively on ŠKODA’S Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Skoda).

› First appearance on fair at Volkswagen Group night
› Citigo is brand’s entry into growing subcompact segment
› Attractive design creates distinctive character
› ŠKODA product offensive picking up more speed in 2012
› Perfect start to the year: sales up 11,6 percent in first two months of 2012

Mladá Boleslav/Geneva, March 5th, 2012 – ŠKODA introduced its Citigo subcompact as a five-door version to a wider public for the first time as part of Volkswagen Group night at the Geneva Automobile Salon. From May 2012 ŠKODA’s most recent model will become available in European markets as a three- and as a five-door version. The Citigo is ŠKODA’s entry into the strongly growing subcompact segment, giving it an essential role in the company’s growth strategy.

Andreas Mikkelsen In A Škoda Fabia Super 2000 Dominated The Sata Rally Acores

› ŠKODA scooped the first two places

› Reigning IRC champion Mikkelsen started his mission of defending his championship title

› Hänninen, last year's winner of the Sata Rally Acores, came second

› A great debut by Sepp Wiegand

YouTube:

www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda

Ponta Delgada, 25 February, 2012 – Reigning IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport made the best possible step in his effort to repeat his last year's victory in the IRC championship. In the opening event of the 2012 IRC, the Sata Rally Acores, Mikkelsen put in a brilliant performance to mark his first win in the new season and extend the streak of top-class performances he started by dominating the last two events of 2011 (Scotland and Cyprus). Juho Hänninen of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team), last year's winner of the Sata Rally Acores, came second. Fourth place is a reason to celebrate for Sepp Wiegand of ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland who made his IRC debut in the Azores. The dominance of ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000s was sealed by Hermann Gassner jr. of Red Bull who finished fifth.

› Standings after Day 2: 1.Mikkelsen, 2. Hänninen +16.2, 3. Bouffier +1:17.8

› Red Bull's Gassner in a private Fabia is fourth, Wiegand of ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland is fifth

› Final leg scheduled for Saturday

YouTube:

www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda

Ponta Delgada, 24 February, 2012 – Day 2 of the Sata Rally Acores offered another battle for the top position between two Scandinavians, Mikkelsen and Hänninen – having put in an excellent performance again, the Norwegian driver remains top with a 16.2s lead. Red Bull's Hermann Gassner is fourth, Sepp Wiegand of ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland who is making his IRC debut is fifth.

› ŠKODA got off to defend the IRC manufacturers title

› Leading positions after day one: 1.Mikkelsen, 2. Hänninen +1.4s, 3. Bouffier +21.6s

› A total of five Fabias Super 2000 at the start

Ponta Delgada, 23 February 2012 – Azores Rally started the new season of Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) championship 2012. The competition, divided into three days, offered the first three stages today. From the beginning the two frontrunners – last year’s winner of the Azores rally Juho Hänninen and the current IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen, are fighting for the first position, both on the factory Fabia Super 2000.

› ŠKODA is defending its championship title in the Manufacturers category of the IRC

› The Azores Rally takes place on the Sao Miguel island over 23-25 February, 2012

› Five Fabia Super 2000s to appear on the start line, including last year's winner Juho Hänninen

› Sepp Wiegand of ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland to make his IRC debut

Mladá Boleslav, 20 February, 2012 – Scheduled for the upcoming weekend, the Azores Rally is about to open the 2012 season of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). After the most successful year in the 111-year history of its motorsport efforts, ŠKODA's ambition in 2012 is to win a third consecutive championship title in the Manufacturers category of the IRC. The first event of the new season will see five Fabia Super 2000s on the start line. The hottest favourites for winning the Azores Rally are its last year's winner and SWRC champion Juho Hänninen and reigning IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen. The IRC series will offer altogether 13 events this year.

ŠKODA Grows In Russia

› New training center opened at GAZ in Nizhny Novgorod
› Cooperation with the partner GAZ strengthening the position of the Czech brand on the Russian market
› Russia playing a key role for the ŠKODA Growth Strategy 2018
› Third-largest market for ŠKODA vehicles
› In 2011, 74,000 ŠKODA vehicles were delivered to Russian customers

Mladá Boleslav/Nizhny Novgorod, February 17th, 2012 – Besides the ongoing manufacture of ŠKODA vehicles at the Russian plant of the Volkswagen Group in Kaluga, the production of other ŠKODA vehicles is currently being increased at the Russian partner GAZ in Nizhny Novgorod. “We see a great growth potential for ŠKODA in Russia, which is why we need additional production capacities,” Prof. Dr. h. c. Winfried Vahland, the chairman of the board of ŠKODA, said at the occasion of the opening of a new training center at the Russian partner GAZ.

2012 Off To Promising Start For ŠKODA

› At 75,400, sales are up 10.2 percent

› Best January result in corporate history

› All sales regions post increases

› Excellent initial sales for Citigo in Czech Republic and Rapid in India

Mladá Boleslav, February 10th, 2012 – ŠKODA is continuing on its growth course in early 2012. Worldwide sales of this long-established Czech carmaker rose 10.2 percent year on year in January 2012 to 75,400 units. This is also the best January figure in ŠKODA’s 117-year corporate history.

ŠKODA Octavia Green E Line: E-Mobility Under Everyday Conditions

› Endurance testing in ten electric cars based on ŠKODA Octavia in full swing

› Practical testing at Prague airport

› Octavia Green E Line fine-tuning

› Delivery to external partners set for late March 2012

Mladá Boleslav, February 3^nd, 2012 – ŠKODA is engaged in intensive tests of its electric vehicle fleet based on ten ŠKODA Octavia Green E Line introduced recently. The current phase is all about new findings in operations under everyday conditions. ŠKODA has begun operating one of the Green E Line cars at Prague airport.

› ŠKODA Motorsport's driver won Sportbest as part of the 2011 Autobest awards

› Three time IRC Vice_Champion received honours for excellent rallying performances

› Jury made up of 15 motoring journalists from Central and Eastern Europe

› Kopecký's second award this year

Mladá Boleslav, 2 February, 2012 – Jan Kopecký of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team) has been awarded the 2011 Sportbest from Autobest, a renowned international organisation. Three time IRC Vice_Champion, the Czech rally driver received the honour for his long-standing excellence in motorsport.

› ŠKODA Auto Museum displaying seven historic vehicles at ‘Salon Retro Mobile’

› Unique 1928 Hispano Suiza ŠKODA and two other 1930s vintage cars shine in hall 3 of Porte de Versailles fairground

Mladá Boleslav, February 1^st, 2012– At the prestigious ‘Salon Retro Mobile’ held in Paris from February 1^st to 5^th, 2012, precious exhibits from the ŠKODA Auto Museum are on display. The limelight at Paris’ Porte de Versailles fairground will be on five historic ŠKODA cars, a motorcycle and a racing bicycle.

ŠKODA Celebrates: 14 Million Vehicles Produced

› Jubilee car a Superb of the ‘Laurin & Klement’ special edition

› Impressive growth course of the ŠKODA brand

› Production and sales to grow significantly until 2018

› Model offensive and further capacity expansion in international markets under way

Mladá Boleslav/Kvasiny, January 30, 2012 – ŠKODA has produced its 14-millionth car: The jubilee vehicle – a Superb 2.0 TDI of the ‘Laurin & Klement’ special edition – rolled off the assembly line at the Czech plant at Kvasiny today. The vehicle painted in the color ‘magnetic brown metallic’ is designated for delivery to a German customer. The production jubilee is another milestone for the sustained growth of the automobile manufacturer. Until 2018, ŠKODA wants to increase its worldwide sales to at least 1.5 million units per year. With a total of 879,200 units in 2011, the company sold more cars then ever in its 117-year history.

World Debut For Five-Door ŠKODA Citigo

› Exhibition debut at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

› Hands-on preview for journalists in February 2012

› Model line extended into new market segments

› ŠKODA model offensive is defining element in manufacturer’s Growth Strategy

Mladá Boleslav, January 30th, 2012 – ŠKODA will present the new Citigo subcompact to the public as a five-door version for the first time at the Geneva Auto Salon in early 2012. Media representatives will be offered a preview of the new ŠKODA including test drives in February 2012. The five-door version will be successively launched in European markets together with the three-door version from mid-May 2012.

Juho Hänninen To Be The Main Attraction At The Racingshow

› SWRC champion Juho Hänninen to appear at Austria's largest motorsport trade fair

› The event programme includes a public discussion with fans and experts

Mladá Boleslav, 27 January, 2012 – Reigning SWRC World Champion Juho Hänninen of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team) will be the main star at the Racingshow, a major motorsport trade fair to take place in Vienna, Austria over the upcoming weekend. The event programme includes a public discussion on rallying for fans and experts from Austria and the Czech Republic. ŠKODA will showcase its successful Fabia Super 2000.

› Readers elect ŠKODA Superb number one in import champions’ middle class category

› ŠKODA flagship defends previous year’s title

› Fabia, Roomster and Octavia also achieve podium results

Weiterstadt/Mladá Boleslav, January 26th, 2012 – No less than four ŠKODA-models made it onto the podium this year at auto motor und sport (ams), Germany’s renowned car magazine’s ‘Die Besten Autos 2012’ reader poll. The ŠKODA Superb came tops in readers’ votes. However, bestseller the ŠKODA Octavia, ŠKODA Roomster and ŠKODA Fabia each achieved second place among the imports in the compacts, vans and subcompacts categories, respectively.

ŠKODA Ever More Attractive As An Employer

› NEW RECORD: MORE THAN 1,650 NEW JOBS CREATED IN 2011

› PERMANENT STAFF: 25,800 EMPLOYEES FROM 37 NATIONS WORKING AT ŠKODA AS PER DECEMBER 31^ST, 2011

› OVER 21,000 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE PAST YEAR

› HUMAN RESOURCES AN IMPORTANT PILLAR OF THE ŠKODA GROWTH STRATEGY

Mladá Boleslav, January 25^th, 2012 – ŠKODA is becoming ever more attractive as an employer and continues to bet on the growth of its staff. In 2011, the total headcount of permanent staff grew eight percent to 25,800 employees – a record. With this development, the composition of the personnel is becoming more international: At the current time, people from 37 nations work for the Czech automobile manufacturer.

ŠKODA In Qatar: The Model Initiative Continues

› ŠKODA MissionL displayed outside Europe forthe first time

› Study shows design of new compact saloon and brand itself

› ŠKODA model offensive continues

› Sales record in 2011: 879,200 cars delivered, an increase of 15.3 percent

› International presence set to strengthen further

› Compact saloon will be also available in Qatar

Mladá Boleslav, January 23^rd, 2012 – Czech car maker ŠKODA’s appearance at the 2012 Qatar Motor Show is framed by the brand’s international growth strategy. MissionL, a close-to-series-study, ŠKODA provides the State’s audience with a detailed preview of its new compact saloon. At the same time, the concept car is an ambassador of the new ŠKODA design and on display outside Europe for the first time.

ŠKODA Motorsport's Jan Kopecký Wins Golden Steering Wheel

› IRC Vice-Champion has won this prestigious award

› Fifth Golden Steering Wheel for Kopecký in total

› Petr Starý selected as the best co-driver

› Long-established survey among Czech motoring journalists and experts

Mladá Boleslav, 19 January, 2012 – Jan Kopecký of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team) has won the Rally category of the 2011 Golden Steering Wheel, a long-established survey among Czech motoring journalists and experts. After winning this award for four consecutive years, Kopecký has now won his fifth Golden Wheel. Petr Starý, Kopecký's co-driver, has been also been selected as best co-driver.

ŠKODA Superb Laurin & Klement gallery

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ŠKODA opens three additional training centers

› New centers for logistics, car body construction and the paint shop at the Kvasiny plant

› Thirteen ŠKODA training centers operating in four plants worldwide

› Manufacturer continues to invest in the know-how of the production team

› About 6,000 employees trained in 2011

Kvasiny, January 12^th, 2011 – ŠKODA has commissioned three new training centers for the areas of logistics, car body construction and the paint shop at the plant in Kvasiny. Thus, the manufacturer has a total of thirteen such facilities for educating and training the production teams in its plant.

The investments are an important measure within the framework of the ŠKODA Growth Strategy. The manufacturer wants to increase its worldwide sales to at least 1.5 million units per year, until the year 2018, and is also enhancing the production capacities in its plants in this context.

› Fleet of ten E-Octavia in road tests around Mladà Boleslav

› ŠKODA’s first purely electric vehicle

› Technological expertise in cooperation Volkswagen Group

› ŠKODA’s existing model line excels in fuel economy

Mladá Boleslav, January 11^th, 2012 – ŠKODA has begun testing elecric traction in everyday operation with a fleet of ten electrically powered Octavia Green E Line The Octavia Green E Line is the Czech’s carmaker’s first purely electric vehicle. The aim of the test is to gain practical experience with electric propulsion.

› 2011 worldwide sales up by 15.3% to 879,200 vehicles

› Deliveries advance in all regions and for all model lines

› Increased market share in all sales regions – World market share: 1.4%

› Production capacity expanding to accommodate further growth

› New Citigo and Rapid off to promising start

Mladá Boleslav, 10 January 2012 – ŠKODA continued on its successful course, achieving a new sales record in FY 2011. The brand’s sales increased by 15.3% 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% in world market share (2010: close to 1.3%).

Jänner Rally Dominated By ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000s

› Jänner Rally final standings: 1. Kopecký, 2. Hänninen +40.1

› Kopecký & Dresler of ŠKODA Motorsport won the opening event of the European and Czech Championships

› The rally was a dramatic spectacle in rough winter conditions

Freistadt, 7. ledna 2012 – Taking place in the surroundings of the Austrian town of Freistadt, the opening event of the European and Czech Championships, the Jänner Rally, has been dominated by ŠKODA Motorsport and Fabia Super 2000s. After a dramatic spectacle, Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler of ŠKODA Motorsport won and their teammates Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula came second. In addition to the factory team's success, Raimund Baumschlager in a private Fabia Super 2000 finished fourth, only 0.2 sec behind third-placed Beppo Harrach. The event offered rough winter conditions, i.e. heavy snowfalls and an ice-covered track.

Hänninen In The Lead Of The Jänner Rally After A Fantastic Chase Ride

› Standings after Day 1: 1. Hänninen, 2. Baumschlager +13.0, 3. Kopecký +34.0 (all in ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000s)

› Fantastic chase ride by both ŠKODA Motorsport's factory drivers

› The opening event of the European, Czech and Austrian Championships offered typical winter conditions

Freistadt, 6 January, 2012 – In typical winter conditions, the opening event of the 2012 season, the Jänner Rally in Austria, offered a thrilling spectacle today, with ŠKODA Motorsport's factory drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký starring in the main roles. Juho and Jan struggled hard with difficult conditions in the opening section and suffered considerable losses on the snow-covered roads, but then they both showed a breath-taking finish to move up the standings – Juho Hänninen & Mikko Markkula are in the lead and Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler are third before Saturday's final leg.

ŠKODA’s Strategy: Focussed On India

› Sales increase by 15 percent to around 875,000 cars in 2011

› Indian sales up 50 percent to 30,005 units in 2011

› New Rapid saloon to open up largest segment in Indian market for brand

› ŠKODA marks ten years of success in India

New Delhi/Mladá Boleslav, January 5th, 2012 – ŠKODA is determined to continue strong growth worldwide and to improve its favourable position in India, officials of the Czech company said at New Delhi AUTO EXPO 2012.

› Sales increase by 15 percent to around 875,000 cars in 2011

› First year of growth strategy a resounding success

› Ramp-up of capacities ahead for further growth

› New Citigo and Rapid models make promising starts

› Most successful year in motorsport in company’s history

New Delhi/Mladá Boleslav, January 5th, 2012 – ŠKODA continued on its growth path in 2011 and set another sales record. The brand’s sales increased based on preliminary figures by 15 percent to attain a new all-time high of around 875,000 cars compared to 762,600 vehicles in 2010. At the same time, the manufacturer successfully introduced the new Citigo and Rapid as the first cars under its model offensive.

ŠKODA Motorsport To Enter The 2012 Season At The Jänner Rally

› Both ŠKODA Motorsport's factory crews, Hänninen/Markkula and Kopecký/Dresler, to appear in the season's opening event

› The Jänner Rally is part of the European, Czech and Austrian championships

› ŠKODA's ambition is to fight for top ranks also in the new season

Mladá Boleslav, 4 January, 2012 – Ready to field both of its factory crews, the ŠKODA Motorsport team is entering the 2012 season at the Jänner Rally to take place in Austria over the first weekend of January. After the most successful season in its history, ŠKODA Motorsport wants to fight for the top ranks also in this season, and will focus on three series in total. While the priority is to repeat Škoda's last year's victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the team is also going to appear in selected events of the European and Czech championships.

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