Skoda sells over a million cars worldwide in 2020 despite pandemic

Skoda Auto has announced sale of 1,004,800 vehicles to customers in 2020, surpassing the one-million-delivery mark for the seventh year in a row. Following the 39-day shutdown of the Czech production sites and the temporary collapse of the sales channels in the second  quarter, Skoda Auto says it managed to regain momentum on the international markets as early as June.

Despite the ongoing challenging conditions, the Czech car manufacturer delivered 578,100 vehicles worldwide from July to December (first half of 2020: 426,700 vehicles). In addition, Skoda Auto confirmed its successful course in numerous markets over the past 12 months: 24,200 vehicles were sold in Turkey (+56.3%) and 5,500 vehicles in Egypt (+52.8%). In Europe, the car manufacturer also increased its market share to 5.4 %. In Russia, a new record was set with 94,600 vehicles delivered (+6.8%).

Skoda Auto CEO Thomas Schäfer said: “Delivering over one million vehicles worldwide is a great success for Skoda Auto, especially against the backdrop of the Corona pandemic and the resulting five-week production shutdown during the first wave in spring. I would like to thank the sales team, importers and dealers for this joint effort. An equally big thank you to our colleagues from production, quality management and all other Škodians who fought for every Skoda.”

Region-wise sales
In Western Europe, the carmaker recorded 434,500 deliveries in 2020 (January to December 2019: 520,500 vehicles; -16.5%). In Germany, the brand’s second-largest single market, deliveries totalled 161,800 vehicles last year (January to December 2019: 191,200 vehicles; -15.4%).

In Central Europe, Skoda delivered 181,900 vehicles from January to December 2020 (January to December 2019: 215,800; -15.7%). Skoda increased its market share in the region by 1.74 points to 19.65 %. In the domestic market of the Czech Republic, deliveries decreased by 11.6% to 83,200 between January and December 2020 (January to December 2019: 94,200 vehicles), with market shares increasing by 3.34 percentage points to 41.0%.

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, Skoda delivered 39,800 vehicles to customers from January to December 2020 (January to December 2019: 50,200 vehicles; -20.8%). 

In Russia, the car manufacturer grew by 6.8% in 2020, with deliveries reaching a new record of 94,600 vehicles (January to December 2019: 88,600 vehicles). 

In its largest single market worldwide, China, the carmaker delivered 173,000 vehicles to customers between January and December 2020 (January to December 2019: 282,000 vehicles; -38.7%).

In India, Skoda delivered 10,900 vehicles between January and December 2020 (January to December 2019: 15,100 vehicles; -27.9%). In December 2020, deliveries amounted to 1,400 vehicles (December 2019: 1,800 vehicles; -23.0%).

Skoda is now readying to launch the new Kushaq midsized SUV in India, the first product from the India 2.0 growth strategy and also the first from the MQB AO IN platform designed specifically for India.

Skoda was able to make significant gains in Turkey. From January to December 2020, the manufacturer increased its vehicle deliveries by 56.3% to 24,200 units (January to December 2019: 15,500 vehicles). In December 2020, the company delivered 2,800 vehicles in the region, an increase of 10.7% (December 2019: 2,500 vehicles).

Graphics: Skoda Auto