Skoda Maintains Growth

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – May 25, 2010: Skoda Auto, the Czech Republic’s largest car manufacturer, continued to register impressive growth in worldwide sales during April. The number of vehicles delivered to customers in the first four months of 2010 grew to 242,078 – an 18.6% increase on the same period last year. In April alone, the company sold 63,177 vehicles, up 3.5% from April 2009.

The driving force behind the increase in sales is the growthof the Chinese market, where deliveries in April accounted for 12,108 vehicles, up 31.4% from April 2009. Škoda sales in overseas regions grew by an impressive 65.6%, including Eastern Europe which despite the continuing difficult economic climate experienced a sales increase of 7.7%. In Western Europe (exclusive of Germany), Škoda´s results were 38% better when compared with last year.

The brand also experienced a significant increase in sales in the Czech Republic, its domestic market, where it delivered 5,604 vehicles during April, 24% more than last year. Škoda's fastest selling model in April was Octavia Combi Tour, with sales of 754 units (185 last year), helping its domestic market share grow to 36.59%.

In Germany, Škoda’s second largest market after China, the Czech car manufacturer delivered 10,199 vehicles to customers during April. “Sales slumped by 35% when compared with 2009 when the car scrappage scheme was underway, nevertheless we still sold 43,268 vehicles from January until April 2010 - 7% more than in 2008, the latest ‘normal’ year - and managed to defend our position as Germany´s No. 1 importer”, said Reinhard Fleger, BOD Member for Sales and Marketing.

Škoda's best selling model in April was the Octavia, with 25,111 vehicles (-0.6%), followed by the Fabia (19,261 vehicles; -18.1 %), the Superb (8,499 vehicles; +163.2 %), the Yeti (4,334 vehicles), the Octavia Tour (3,459 vehicles; -20.8 %) and the Roomster (2,513 vehicles; -46.2 %).