At 95,200 deliveries to customers, March 2012 was the best sales month ever for SKODA, recording a year-on-year growth of 12.1%. This contributed to first-quarter sales figures increasing by 11.8% to more than 242,700 units, making this SKODA’s best-ever quarter in the brand’s 117-year history. 

In the UK, SKODA registrations rose by more than 24% in the first quarter of 2012, with nearly 14,000 vehicles finding new homes.

SKODA’s world market share increased to almost 1.5% (2011: 1.4%). Markets such as China and India continued their successful trend and set new highs; Russia, Eastern Europe and major Western European markets also posted double-digit growth.

As Western Europe continued to be marked by intense competition, SKODA managed to grow in March 2012 alone, resisting the trend. Despite an overall market decline, SKODA increased sales marginally by 1%, selling almost 41,500 cars (March 2011: 41.100). For the first quarter of 2012, SKODA raised deliveries in Western Europe by 3.7% year-on-year to a total of almost 98,500 cars (Q1 2011: 95,000).

Austria (plus 23.6%), France (plus 19.3%), Sweden (plus 17.8%), Finland (plus 17%), Spain (plus 12%) and Switzerland (plus 9.1%) also posted strong growth in Western Europe. SKODA also continued on its successful course in Germany, Europe’s largest market, increasing sales slightly to 14,500 cars.

In March, SKODA’s most popular models in Western Europe were the Fabia and the Octavia, while the Yeti and the Roomster achieved the highest growth rates, posting 10.3% and 4.7% respectively. The Superb also performed strongly, rising by 3.3%.

March 2012 saw SKODA again posting a high percentage growth in Eastern Europe. Deliveries to customers rose 41.4% to almost 11,600 units (March 2011: 8,200 units). In the first quarter of 2012 SKODA grew by 38.7% to about 28,300 delivered vehicles in Eastern Europe  (Q1 2011: 20,400 vehicles). 

Russia confirmed its role as the region’s sales engine, with ŠKODA continuing its successful run in March, increasing sales by 47% to over 8,100 cars (March 2011: 5.500 units). For the quarter, ŠKODA delivered 19,200 vehicles in Russia, up 42.9% (Q1 2011: 13,400 cars). In this market SKODA’s most popular model in March was the Octavia again, totalling more than 4,100 deliveries to customers (up 39.3%, March 2011: 3,000). Sales figures for the Yeti compact SUV doubled from almost 700 to a shade under 1,400 units. The Roomster advanced by 126% to almost 170 units, while the Superb rose 51.7% to just under 500 cars. ŠKODA also posted a significant sales increase in Ukraine in March 2012, gaining 92.1% for a total of 1,700 vehicles.

SKODA continued to increase deliveries in EastCentral Europe in March. Sales rose 6.3% to almost 11,500 units (March 2011: 10,800 units). In the first three months of 2012, SKODA grew 5.5% across the region to over 32,600 cars (1^st quarter 2011: 30,900 cars). In the Czech Republic, the brand’s home market, deliveries to customers rose 3.3% to 5,300 vehicles in March 2012 (March 2011: 5,100). In Poland’s declining overall market, SKODA bucked the trend in March, raising sales by 9.8% to a total of 3,600 vehicles delivered. In Hungary and Croatia, the brand achieved double-digit sales growth at 11.5 and 55.9% respectively. The Octavia retained its title as East Central Europe’s most popular SKODA, (5,400 units; plus 17.2%), while the Yeti (plus 24.4%) and the Superb (plus 10.1%) posted the strongest growth rates.