ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard Maier emphasises: “The difficult geopolitical and economic conditions and the resulting uncertainties on the world markets presented us with numerous challenges in 2019. Despite these rough waters, ŠKODA remains on course. I would like to thank our customers for their trust in our products and our great ŠKODA team for their tremendous commitment.”
Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, adds: “With the SCALA, the KAMIQ, the new SUPERB iV with plug-in hybrid drive and the introduction of the new OCTAVIA, we successfully modernised and expanded our attractive model range last year. Our vehicles inspire customers around the world with superior space, high functionality, forward-looking design, Simply Clever ideas and a convincing price-performance ratio.”
Record year in Europe and Russia
In Western Europe, ŠKODA delivered 520,500 vehicles in 2019, an increase of 7.0% compared to the previous year (January to December 2018: 486,400 vehicles). Deliveries in December rose by 23.0% to 42,200 vehicles compared to the same month last year (December 2018: 34,300 vehicles). In Germany, the brand’s second-largest single market, deliveries increased by 8.3% to 191,200 vehicles in 2019 (2018: 176,600 vehicles). In 2019, the car manufacturer achieved double-digit growth in France (37,200 vehicles; +16.2%), Switzerland (22,600 vehicles; +27.5%), the Netherlands (19,200 vehicles; +12.8%) and Denmark (15,600 vehicles; +14.6%).
ŠKODA delivered 215,800 vehicles in Central Europe last year, an increase of 1.3% over the same period last year (2018: 212,900 vehicles). In December, deliveries were up 13.2% to 17,700 vehicles compared to the same month last year (December 2018: 15,600 vehicles). In ŠKODA’s home market, the Czech Republic, the brand recorded 94,200 deliveries in 2019 (2018: 93,600 vehicles; +0.6%). In Croatia, the manufacturer increased vehicle deliveries by 11.3% to 5,900 vehicles (2018: 5,300 vehicles).
In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, 50,200 vehicle deliveries represents an increase of 8.9% over last year (2018: 46,100 vehicles). ŠKODA delivered 4,300 vehicles in December (December 2018: 3,700 vehicles; +16.8%). In 2019, ŠKODA recorded double-digit growth in Ukraine (6,200 vehicles; +16.8%) and Kazakhstan (1,000 vehicles; +27.5%).
In Russia, ŠKODA delivered 88,600 vehicles last year, an increase of 8.8% compared to the previous year (2018: 81,500 vehicles). Deliveries also increased in December: 9,200 deliveries correspond to an increase of 12.1% compared to the same month last year (December 2018: 8,200 vehicles).
Deliveries in China, the world’s largest single market, were 17.3% below the previous year’s level at 282,000 vehicles (2018: 341,000 vehicles). The reason is the continued decline of the Chinese passenger car market, which is still characterised by market uncertainty and buying restraint. In December, ŠKODA recorded 34,200 deliveries.
In India, ŠKODA delivered a total of 15,100 vehicles in 2019 (2018: 17,200 vehicles; -12.3%). The car manufacturer was able to grow in December, delivering 1,800 vehicles, which is 17.2% above the level of the same period last year (December 2018: 1,500 vehicles).
ŠKODA deliveries in 2019 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in per cent compared to 2018):
ŠKODA OCTAVIA (363,700; -6.3 %)
ŠKODA FABIA (172,800; -9.5 %)
ŠKODA KODIAQ (171,800; +15.1 %)
ŠKODA KAROQ (152,700; +32.0 %)
ŠKODA RAPID (142,100; -25.8 %)
ŠKODA SUPERB (104,800; -24.2 %)
ŠKODA KAMIQ (64,600; +131.8 %)
ŠKODA SCALA (39,100; –)
ŠKODA CITIGO (only sold in Europe: 31,200; -20.3 %)