The Rapid pace at which the Skoda auto has been making deliveries to its customers was maintained in April as well. The car maker's delivery figure climbed to 81,400 in April 2012 to record a growth of 4.1 per cent globally. This is the best result for the company in the month of April and the third best in the history after March 2012 and March 2011. Showing a growth of 9.1 percent, Skoda made 3,24,100 deliveries in the first quarter of 2012. Against 2,95,300 models delivered during the same period last year, its sets a new record.
Taking into consideration the previous year's record in April when 78,200 cars were sold, the Czech automotive giant celebrated another successful worldwide month in April 2012 by selling 81,400 models. Along with India, company also scored good sales record in Eastern Europe and Central Europe.3,24,100 deliveries were made worldwide to mark a YoY growth of 9.1 percent in the first quarter of 2012 by the car maker. This was an improvement from the record 2,95,300 units that were sold in the first four months of 2011.
Skoda Board member, Sales and Marketing, Jurgen Stackamnn said, “ŠKODA AUTO again achieved year on year growth in deliveries in April 2012 and posted the best April result of all time.” He further added, “We expect the debut of the ŠKODA Citigo to provide a further boost to our business, and this despite conditions that have become significantly more difficult, especially in some Western European markets.”
Going by the preliminary statistics, the total industry sales went down by 7.4 percent, in the highly competitive and degrading markets of Western Europe except Germany and Great Britain, almost whole of the Western European markets reported a decline. The delivery per cent of Skoda Auto was in total contrast with the overall figure, standing at 5.3 during this period.
Approximately 30,400 units were delivered to Western European customers as compared to 32,100 in April 2011. Due to rise in deliveries in Great Britain by 25.2 per cent, Austria by 15.3 per cent, Switzerland by13.5 per cent, Norway by 6.1 per cent, France by 4.8 per cent and in Germany by 3.1 per cent, Skoda auto even reported profits in some parts of Western Europe. Skoda Roomster and Yeti were the top grossing models for the Skoda in Western Europe bringing and additional 27.7 percent and 9 percent respectively.
The growth in customer delivery from 9,600 units in April 2011 increased to 12,300 cars in April 2012, showing a really sharp growth in Eastern Europe. 8,800 cars were sold in Russia alone during April 2012 compared to 5,900 cars sold in the same month last year totalling a growth of 48 per cent YoY. The Octavia was the most popular car model in Russian market which sold 4,500 units in April 2012 against 3,400 cars last year in the same month.
Yeti from Skoda marked a growth of 137 per cent by selling 1,500 units. The Roomster scored 95 per cent growth with the sales of 150 plus units. However, Skoda Superb sold 500 models to mark 125 per cent growth. The sales of the company in Ukraine also marked a growth of 14.3 per cent by selling 1,400 cars.
The Czech automotive giant witnessed further growth in sales during April in Eastern Central Europe. With 11,600 cars sold this April compared to 10,700 in the similar period in 2011, the sales rose up to 7.7 per cent. In the home country of the car maker, Czech Republic, sales touched a growth of 11.7 per cent with 5,500 units sold compared to 4,900 of the previous year. With 1,500 cars sold, Slovak market witnessed growth of Skoda by 17.9 per cent. Skoda Octavia stayed the most popular car in Eastern Europe market as well by selling 5,100 units marking a growth of 4.1 per cent. Skoda Superb scored a growth of 8.3 per cent with its sales of 900 units and Yeti sold 900 units to mark and 8.9 per cent growth.
The success of Skoda Auto continued in China in April 2012 with total deliveries of almost 20,400 cars compared to 20,100 cars previous year to show a growth of 1.1 per cent. China is the Czech giant's strongest link in the world market. Skoda Octavia was a hit with the Chinese customers as well with sales 12,800 cars with a growth of 7.6 per cent followed by 4,100 models of Skoda Superb sold to mark 6.9 per cent growth.
In Indian Sub-continent, the sales to customers increased to 36.8 per cent by selling 3000 units as compared to 2,200 in April 2011. The compact saloon from the company, Rapid, launched in the country in 2011, sold almost 1900 units in April 2012 by itself, proving quite a hit.
Skoda also marked growth in other markets like in Egypt, it showed a growth of 3.1 per cent by selling more than 400 cars. Sales of various models of Skoda worldwide include Skoda Octavia, 36,600 units showing a growth of 2.5 per cent, Skoda Fabia sold 22,000 cars marking a decline of 5 per cent and Skoda superb delivered 9,600 units showing a decline of 10 per cent.
Skoda Yeti attained 31.1 per cent growth with sales of 7,600 units, Skoda Roomster sprinted ahead by 16.3 per cent with sales record of 3,300 cars, Skoda Rapid, which is available to Indian customers managed sales of 1,900 models after being launched last year. However, Skoda Citigo sales were 400 cars.
