Skoda Auto's success story continues

The Skoda Auto Group has achieved a pre tax-profit of CZK 10 billion over the first six months of this year, which is a 22.1% year-on-year increase. The assembly plants have produced altogether 318,189 Skoda vehicles since the beginning of the year. Compared with the same period of 2006, the Company has increased the volume by 26,408 vehicles (+9.1 %).

The successful launch of the Skoda Roomster in all relevant markets has helped significantly to increase the Company's sales. Another aspect that has contributed to the good results of the first half of the year is growing demand for the Skoda Octavia. The sales of Skoda Superb were comparable with last year. The general demand for Skoda vehicles has also been stimulated by launching the second-generation Fabia.

Growing by 13.2% as compared to the same period of last year, the worldwide deliveries to customers have been showing a very positive trend over the first half of 2007. In total, the Company has delivered 311,062 Skoda vehicles to its customers.

The Group's revenues over the first six months of 2007 totalled CZK 113.5 billion, which is an increase by 8.7%, almost identical with that in the sales volume. Holger Kintscher, Skoda Auto BOD Member, comments: “We see this achievement as proof that our model-and-site strategy is good. In particular, we are happy about improving the Skoda Group's financial result again. One of the factors behind this success is consistent monitoring of our costs.“

Skoda Auto has invested altogether CZK 2.4 billion in tangible assets since the beginning of the year. The largest portion of the amount accounts for product investments (CZK 1.6 billion). In addition to that, CZK 460 million have been invested in production plant renovations and new infrastructures.