Skoda defied the general industry downturn for new car sales in 2009 by achieving its best ever annual worldwide sales figures.
The Czech company sold 684,226 units in 2009, a 1.4 per cent year-on-year rise. Its strongest market was western Europe, where scrappage incentive schemes boosted its sales as buyers opted for smaller, cheaper models such as the Fabia and Octavia.
China was also a successful market for Skoda in 2009 as it sold more than 122,000 cars, more than double the previous year. Skoda board member Reinhard Fleger expects Skoda’s sales in China to grow further in the coming years.
“During this difficult time that the global economy is experiencing, we have managed to stabilise the company’s sales,” he said.
“We have been helped by the strategic and rapidly developing Chinese market, also interest from customers in western Europe strengthened following the introduction of the car-scrappage bonus.”
Fleger said continued development of existing products and continued expansion into developing markets would be vital if Skoda is to sustain this level of sales in what will be a “difficult” 2010.
“According to all estimates, 2010 will be a difficult test,” he said. “We are placing our hopes for positive development on the models that have been recently launched and other models that will be launched in the new year and on expansion in to further developing markets.”
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