Record worldwide sales for Skoda in 2009
SkodaAuto defied the market downturn by increasing its overall worldwide sales last year, bettering its previous sales record. In total, Skoda sold 684,226 cars in 2009, up 1.4% on the previous year.
Western Europe continues to be Skoda's strongest market, with both sales and market shares increased throughout the continent. Germany remains its strongest region, with over 190,000 sales, up 57.3% year-on-year. However, the burgeoning Chinese market saw Skoda's biggest sales increase with over 122,000 cars registered – an increase of 107%.
The UK also experienced a record year selling over 37,200 cars and obtaining a market share of 1.9%. The best-selling Skoda in the UK was the Fabia which, thanks to the successful UK scrappage scheme, sold 18,500 units. Octavia accounted for 13,800 units, Superb 2,600, Roomster 1,500 and the newly launched Yeti sold 700 units.
On an international scale, the best-selling Skoda during 2009 was the Octavia, with more than 270,000 cars sold. The Octavia was closely followed by the Fabia, of which over 260,000 were registered. The biggest sales increase was recorded by the multi-award winning Superb of which almost 45,000 were sold. Customers also showed plenty of interest in the new Skoda Yeti crossover which, despite only being launched in September, found over 11,000 new owners last year. The company also sold over 47,000 Roomsters worldwide.
Reinhard Fleger, Skoda Auto’s board of directors member responsible for sales explained, “During this difficult time that the global economy is experiencing, we have managed to stabilise the company’s sales. We have been helped by the strategic and rapidly developing Chinese market, also interest from customers in Western Europe strengthened following the introduction of the car-scrappage bonus.”
Reinhard continued, “We have also counted on a high standard of quality for our products, innovations and an expansion of our range of models. According to all estimates, 2010 will be a difficult test. We are placing our hopes for positive development on the models that have been recently launched and other models that will be launched in the new year and on expansion in to further developing markets.”
With 2010 starting with its most comprehensive and competitive range of cars ever and its trophy cabinet full of awards, Skoda's new decade is shaping up to be even more successful than the last.
