Record Sales for Skoda Auto in September

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – October 12, 2010: Skoda Auto continues on its dynamic growth curve, selling 75,790 vehicles in September 2010. This represents its best ever single month sales results, helping to increase worldwide deliveries in the first nine months of 2010 by 12.8 percent for a total of 568,990 units.

“With an attractive model range, Škoda has continued on its successful path during the third quarter of 2010,” said Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, chairman of the board of Škoda Auto a.s. “In light of the sales development to date and the record month of September, we are confident that we will sell significantly more vehicles this year than in 2009.”

UK registrations for the year to date are up by 28% at over 32,500, resulting in a 2% market share.

In its home market of Czech Republic, Škoda also expanded its leadership position. With a sales increase of 9.2%, the brand outpaced the overall market. In the first nine months of the year, Škoda delivered a total of 43,666 vehicles to customers in the Czech Republic, up from the 39,974 over the same period last year. Its market share rose to 34.7 percent.

In the other markets of Central and Eastern Europe, Škoda Auto grew above the market average. Market shares and deliveries increased in all markets. In Russia alone, the company achieved a sales increase of 35.2% with sales reaching 34,273 units.

In Western Europe (without Germany), Škoda deliveries rose by 25.5%. In the Netherlands alone, sales improved 75.9% compared to the previous year. The GreenLine models, which distinguish themselves through low fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions, proved to be particularly popular here.

Sales growth in the burgeoning markets outside of Europe continued unabated. In China alone, Škoda sold almost 65% more vehicles (134,470 units) than in the comparable period of last year (81,652). In the other non-European markets, the growth reached a total of 44.6%. In India, 14,224 vehicles were delivered, an increase of 36.6%. The Škoda sales organisations in Egypt (+168.8%), Israel (+63.1%), and Turkey (+61.4%) also recorded significant growth rates.

The Octavia once again proved to be the most popular Škoda, with 31,546 sales, with the Fabia supermini not too far behind with 23,434 registrations. Superb sales increased by a huge 139% to 9,962 vehicles, while Yeti sales were up 240%, with 5,389 of the crossovers finding new homes. The Roomster MPV continues to prove popular, with 3,327 sales.