Skoda reports flat sales in July even as demand surges in China and Russia

Skoda sold 83,700 vehicles worldwide in July 2016, a flat increase of 1% over the same period last year when it sold 82,800 vehicles.

The Czech manufacturer made significant gains, particularly in China (up 16.1%) and Russia (up 11.6%) with the Skoda Superb enjoying great popularity, sales of which went up 92.7% year-on-year (YoY).

Commenting on the sales performance, Werner Eichhorn, board member for sales and marketing, Skoda said, “Skoda’s growth has also continued in July across all markets. We see that our young model range is appealing increasingly to new consumer groups.”

The carmaker will be strengthening its position in the important SUV segment. The Skoda Kodiaq – a new large SUV model above the Skoda Yeti – will be celebrating its world premiere on September 1 in Berlin; with the market launch set for February 2017.

In Western Europe, selling 32,700 vehicles, Skoda recorded a sales decline of 8.7% in July as expected. This development was mainly due to the break in production at the Czech plants during the three-week factory holiday (July 4 to July 22). In Germany, 10,500 new Skodas were sold in July (down 19.7% compared to July 2015). On the bright side, the brand recorded double-digit growth in July in Italy (1,600 vehicles; up 11.0%), Finland (900 vehicles; up 23.1%) and the UK (6,100 vehicles; up 12.5%).

In Central Europe, Skoda’s July sales were down slightly on last year’s figures with 13,900 units (down 4.2%). Here too, the holiday-related break in production at the Czech plants had an expected influence on the sales development. Moreover, the brand’s sales in its home market also went down by 8.1% with 7,100 units sold. The Czech carmaker had a positive July, however, in Croatia (July 2016: 300 vehicles; up 45.6%), Hungary (July 2016: 900 vehicles; up 4.5%) and Slovenia (July 2016: 500 vehicles; up 9.6 %).

In Eastern Europe, excluding Russia, Skoda’s sales in July increased 11.2% to 3,100 cars (2015: 2,800 cars). During the same period, the company’s models enjoyed increasing demand in Russia as sales volumes increased 11.6% to 4,700 vehicles (July 2015: 4200 vehicles).

Thanks to a completely revised model range, sales in July developed particularly positively in Turkey and Israel; compared to July 2015, sales climbed 22.8% to 2,200 vehicles (July 2015: 1,800 vehicles) and 45.8% to 2,700 vehicles (July 2015: 1,800 vehicles) respectively. The company gained significant market shares in both countries in contrast to the market trend (Turkey: down 29%; Israel: down 11.9%).

In the brand’s strongest global market, China, Skoda recorded a significant sales increase compared to the same month last year: sales rose substantially by 16.1% to 21,400 vehicles (July 2015: 18,400 vehicles).

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