Skoda on track to meet 2009 sales targets
November 17, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Skoda Auto has almost reached its global sales target for 2009, having already sold 570,217 vehicles from January to October.
And despite the difficult economic climate, the Czech Republic’s largest manufacturer is just 1.7 per cent behind 2008, in which it sold 674,530 in total.
China is playing an important role in Skoda’s growth with over 100,000 cars sold there this year.
This comes on the back of a 117 per cent sales increase from 2007 to 2008 when 59,284 vehicles were purchased by the Chinese.
Skoda BOD member responsible for sales, Mr Reinhard Fleger, was pleased with the brand’s successful expansion into China.
“China is playing a major role in the brand’s future development.
“The Octavia has been a great success since its launch in June 2007. The Fabia, launched last December, is also very successful. The launch of the Superb in August this year was exceedingly important for further expansion in this market.
“Passing the milestone of 100,000 vehicles is a big step in developing the Skoda brand in China and also a great motivation to ensure that this positive trend continues,” Mr Fleger said.
Skoda Australia also had a strong October, shifting 136 units compared to last year’s 54.
It has sold 934 cars in the first 10 months of the year, a 42 per cent increase over 2008 year-to-date.
Skoda Australia product marketing manager, Petr Beneda, said the results were below predictions from the start of the year.
“We had slightly higher targets for the year, but the GFC and the overall situation slowed the whole process down. But we will have a good year though with growth of around 60 per cent,” he said.
Mr Beneda said he still remained hopeful of reaching 1200-1300 sales by the end of 2009.
He said monthly sales had been much more consistent this year thanks to the expansion of the Octavia range and the popularity of the wagon and RS models.
The Octavia accounts for 77 per cent of all Australian sales, with around a 40:60 split toward the wagon version.
Roomster sales have been disappointing – down from 100 YTD in 2008 to just 55 so far this year – something that Skoda plans to rectify.
“We were a little bit lower on the Roomster, but frankly speaking we didn’t do much advertising on Roomster so we will emphasise this model next year.”
Mr Beneda wouldn’t be drawn on sales expectations for 2010, but said simply: “Of course, we want to grow”.
The Superb wagon will help that, due for release at the beginning of the second quarter.
Mr Beneda also said efforts to bring the Yeti crossover-hatch down under were advanced and that we would hopefully see it from the second half of 2010, while the Fabia small car is a possibility after that.
by Tim Beissmann
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Good choices a a very good car. On JD Power list is always in the top 3 places. Holden should wake up thy canceled Astra instead bringing in some Korean cheap cars. Even in USA the top selling cars are
– Toyota Camry: 436,617
– Honda Accord: 372,789
– Toyota Corolla: 351,007
– Honda Civic: 339,289
– Nissan Altima: 269,668
Skoda will be a big player just like VW.
934 sales in 10 months
no wonder the skoda employees have so much time to clog up these comments sections
I knew it was a small brand in Australia but didn’t realise they where this minuscule
You must start somewhere. It is a new market. It is still more that Holden sold in Germany! In 1960’s Japanese started with small numbers but today Toyota is No1!!
Skoda also started in australia in the 1960s (see the C A story)
its just that they failed
(don’t get the how selling holdens in germany relates to selling Czech cars in australia)
If they say the words Germany and Skoda in the same sentence enough times they may be able to rid themselves of the Czech association.
Having brand advocates is all well and good, but allowing these dodgy Skoda car salesmen to promote a car through self interest is demeaning to the rest of us who like to hear a discussion that is not motivated by one’s next commission (or lack thereof in Skoda’s case) cheque.
****
Czech engineering has historically been equal to or better than German.
They have the ability to think out of the box.
Beetle was a stolen Czech design from Tatra.
German panzer corp commandeered many many Czech tanks when they invaded and many fought and survived the war. They were prized by those Germans that used them.
I am sure there are many more instances.
Czech do it better.
Just look at internet porn!
It would be nowhere if there were only German women taking their clothes off!
Lol, too true!!
I would’nt say better, but they had the 2nd car in europe, after daimler chrysler!! And For the Record Ferdinande Porsche Was check too!!
Obviusly by check i mean Czech.
The Skodas that were sold here back then were actully built in NZ!
Skoda stoped being sold here cos of the iron curtain that followed!!
And with respect to the original comment, Skoda sells more cars here then Holden does in Czech Republic, or Europe!
Also atleast Skoda made cars before being bought by VW, while Holden never did!!
Yes, you’re right, Holden never made a single car after being bought by VW!!
Obviously a bit too complicated, and requires a little background knowledge for you to comprehend!
So yeah, Holden didn’t make a cars before being bought by GM!
Yes you are right. I remember the showroom was on Elizabeth St Melbourne.
Just reading on What Car magazine website that Skoda is doing well in England. JD Power Customer Satisfaction report which comes out every year Skoda finished 4th only beaten by Lexus, Hinda and Mercedes. To do well you must be good in each category
* New-vehicle quality
* The shopping experience
* Sales satisfaction
* Brand loyalty
* Service satisfaction
* Emerging technologies
* Online consumer behavior
* Component quality
* Long-term durability
* Collision repair
Why are they leaving the best until last? The Fabia is the one that they’d probably get decent sales figures from. If they have a starting price of about $16,990, they’d have a well priced, good looking, good quality little supermini with great engines and five doors. Why they brought the Roomster here first I will never understand.
hurry up and get the yeti and the fabia over. the fabia has been delayed due to capacity issues in europe
Yes it is a capacity issue. Fabia is second best selling car in Germany.
No Marke/Modellreihe Oct-09
1 VW GOLF, JETTA 37,485
2 SKODA FABIA 10,632
3 OPEL CORSA 10,832
4 OPEL ASTRA 8,555
5 VW POLO 8,230
6 FORD FIESTA 9,189
7 VW PASSAT 6,526
8 MERCEDES C-KLASSE 7,198
9 AUDI A4, S4 5,840
10 BMW 3ER 5,854
Fabia is 2nd best selling this year not this months. My mistake.
Marke/Modellreihe Jan to Oct
VW GOLF, JETTA 312,918
SKODA FABIA 94,761
OPEL CORSA 93,542
OPEL ASTRA 92,776
VW POLO 92,312
FORD FIESTA 91,808
VW PASSAT 74,488
MERCEDES C-KLASSE 65,269
AUDI A4, S4 63,485
BMW 3ER 62,067
Good work Skoda, great cars.
God that Fabia and Yeti look fantastic! Hurry up and bring them in Skoda, and stop wasting time with the Roomster. I like it, but it’s just too outlandish for the majority of the small car market.
Considering that they have very high sales in Europe and frequently come right at the top of customer satisfaction surveys, I think they are quite a lot more than tolerated. Skoda drivers are generally a happy bunch.
Pretty much every review written here, and Europe seems to disagree!!