Skoda’s global sales up 3.6% in February as new models drive growth

Skoda Auto has posted its best-ever February sales as the company sold 78,800 vehicles globally, up 3.6% year-on-year (February 2015: 76,000).

The Czech manufacturer recorded a significant increase particularly in Western Europe and China with its two latest models – Fabia (up 42.7%) and Superb (65.7%) being the top drivers.

Commenting on the sales, Werner Eichhorn, Škoda board member for Sales & Marketing said, "Škoda has made a good start to the new year. The first two months highlight the positive momentum of the brand. On the global markets, our new Škoda Fabia and Superb are in particularly high demand. However, the situation in Russia and neighbouring countries continues to be tense."

In Western Europe, the brand achieved growth of 9.8% in February with sales of 32,500 units (February 2015: 29,600). In Germany, the manufacturer’s sales increased by 14.7%, strengthening its position as the largest import brand selling 12,100 units (February 2015: 10,500). The carmaker recorded double-digit growth in Denmark (1,100 vehicles, up 41.2%), Finland (1,000 vehicles, up 22.6%), France (1,800 vehicles, up 14%), Ireland (1500 vehicles, up 42.7%), Italy (1800 vehicles, up 26.4%), Netherlands (1,200 vehicles, up 52.6%), Norway (700 vehicles, up 26.4%), Portugal (300 vehicles, up 69.8% ), Spain (2,400 vehicles, up 17.5%) and Sweden (1,300 vehicles, up 24.4%).

The situation on the Russian market remained tense as sales went down 27.4%, 4,100 units in February 2016 compared to 5,600 in the same period last year.

In Eastern Europe, the Baltic States (500 vehicles, up 10.6%), as well as Bosnia (100 vehicles, up 26.0%), Romania (700 vehicles, up 8.8%) and Serbia (500 vehicles, up 7.6%) recorded significant growth.

Škoda also recorded growth in Central Europe as the brand's sales increased by 6.3% to 15,400 units in February 2016 (February 2015: 14,500). On their Czech home market, the manufacturer achieved significant growth with 7,500 vehicles (February 2015: 6,600): an increase of 13.6%, in Slovenia with 500 vehicles, an increase of 13.1% and in Slovakia (1400 vehicles), an increase of 2.4%.

Meanwhile, China continued to remain the automaker’s number-one sales market in February with sales of 18,500 vehicles surpassing last year's results (17,700 units) by 4.6%. Škoda also achieved high growth rates in Israel (1,800 vehicles, up 53.5%), New Zealand (100 vehicles, up 37.8%), Taiwan (200 vehicles, up 20.5%) and Turkey (1800 vehicles, up 37.8%).