Deliveries to customers rose by 15.3% to 879,200 cars from January to December 2011 (2010: 762,600 units). At the same time, SKODA’s sales increased 18.1% to €10.3bn (2010: €8.7bn), thus crossing the 10-billion-euro threshold for the first time.

Operating profit improved by 66.1% to €743m (2010: €447m). The company believes it is well prepared for the years ahead. The brand aims to raise deliveries to a minimum of 1.5m cars per year by 2018, thanks to new models and an increased internal presence. Led by the Citigo subcompact and the Rapid saloon, which is sold in India, the brand’s model offensive is now well on its way.

SKODA achieved its strongest percentage growth in Eastern Europe, where it advanced 47%. Russia was the strongest individual market in the region. Here, the brand’s sales rose by 62.5% to 74,100 units (2011: 45,600).

A highlight was growth in Asia. In India, sales increased nearly 50% showing the strength of the brand. In China, which continues to be SKODA’s largest market, the brand grew 21.9% to nearly 220,100 deliveries.

SKODA eminently bucked the trend in Western Europe’s hotly contested market. While the overall market declined by 1.5%, SKODA’s sales advanced by 8.6%. SKODA models were especially in demand in Germany, where sales grew by 13%. Sales were robust in Central Europe’s otherwise declining markets, with the brand achieving a sales increase of 1.7% in a difficult economic climate. In the Czech Republic, the brand reinforced its number one position, with more than one in three cars sold bearing its distinctive winged arrow.

SKODA cars are becoming increasingly popular with corporate customers, too. The brand sold more than 239,000 cars to fleet operators, an increase of 26.7%.

The Octavia confirmed its status as SKODA’s most popular model in 2011. The Octavia is the “heart of the brand”, its sales rose 10.7% to almost 390,000. The Fabia was the second most popular model, clocking up 267,000 units (plus 16.5%).

The SKODA Superb cracked the 100,000-unit barrier for the first time last year.  Sales of the brand’s flagship model rose by 18.1% to almost 117,000, of which 48,000 were sold in China alone.

The Yeti compact SUV achieved the strongest growth of all SKODA models: 33.7% growth translates into more than 70,000 Yetis sold in 2011. SKODA believes sales of the Yeti can reach 100,000 units per year in years to come, one factor being production of the Yeti in China and Russia, which is set to begin in 2013.

At 36,000 units sold, the Roomster posted an 11.4% growth.

The Citigo subcompact and the Rapid Indian compact saloon, also made an excellent start. The Citigo had its sales debut in its Czech home market in late 2011 and will be rolled out to European markets from May this year. The Rapid, first marketed from late 2011 in India, opens up the second-largest segment in the Indian market for the brand. The car was immediately voted India’s “Family Car of the Year”.

'Our growth strategy is bringing results,' said SKODA chief executive officer, Winfried Vahland (Inset) at the company’s annual press conference in Prague. 'We improved in deliveries and in financial terms, creating an excellent base for our growth course in years to come' said Vahland. 'My special thanks go out to SKODA's outstanding staff, for without them, such an impressive result would not have been achievable'.

Deliveries to customers rose by 15.3% to 879,200 cars from January to December 2011 (2010: 762,600 units). At the same time, SKODA’s sales increased 18.1% to €10.3bn (2010: €8.7bn), thus crossing the 10-billion-euro threshold for the first time.

Operating profit improved by 66.1% to €743m (2010: €447m). The company believes it is well prepared for the years ahead. The brand aims to raise deliveries to a minimum of 1.5m cars per year by 2018, thanks to new models and an increased internal presence. Led by the Citigo subcompact and the Rapid saloon, which is sold in India, the brand’s model offensive is now well on its way.

SKODA achieved its strongest percentage growth in Eastern Europe, where it advanced 47%. Russia was the strongest individual market in the region. Here, the brand’s sales rose by 62.5% to 74,100 units (2011: 45,600).

A highlight was growth in Asia. In India, sales increased nearly 50% showing the strength of the brand. In China, which continues to be SKODA’s largest market, the brand grew 21.9% to nearly 220,100 deliveries.

SKODA eminently bucked the trend in Western Europe’s hotly contested market. While the overall market declined by 1.5%, SKODA’s sales advanced by 8.6%. SKODA models were especially in demand in Germany, where sales grew by 13%. Sales were robust in Central Europe’s otherwise declining markets, with the brand achieving a sales increase of 1.7% in a difficult economic climate. In the Czech Republic, the brand reinforced its number one position, with more than one in three cars sold bearing its distinctive winged arrow.

SKODA cars are becoming increasingly popular with corporate customers, too. The brand sold more than 239,000 cars to fleet operators, an increase of 26.7%.

The Octavia confirmed its status as SKODA’s most popular model in 2011. The Octavia is the “heart of the brand”, its sales rose 10.7% to almost 390,000. The Fabia was the second most popular model, clocking up 267,000 units (plus 16.5%).

The SKODA Superb cracked the 100,000-unit barrier for the first time last year.  Sales of the brand’s flagship model rose by 18.1% to almost 117,000, of which 48,000 were sold in China alone.

The Yeti compact SUV achieved the strongest growth of all SKODA models: 33.7% growth translates into more than 70,000 Yetis sold in 2011. SKODA believes sales of the Yeti can reach 100,000 units per year in years to come, one factor being production of the Yeti in China and Russia, which is set to begin in 2013.

At 36,000 units sold, the Roomster posted an 11.4% growth.

The Citigo subcompact and the Rapid Indian compact saloon, also made an excellent start. The Citigo had its sales debut in its Czech home market in late 2011 and will be rolled out to European markets from May this year. The Rapid, first marketed from late 2011 in India, opens up the second-largest segment in the Indian market for the brand. The car was immediately voted India’s “Family Car of the Year”.

'Our growth strategy is bringing results,' said SKODA chief executive officer, Winfried Vahland (Inset) at the company’s annual press conference in Prague. 'We improved in deliveries and in financial terms, creating an excellent base for our growth course in years to come' said Vahland. 'My special thanks go out to SKODA's outstanding staff, for without them, such an impressive result would not have been achievable'.

Added by: Luke Durkin 
New Media Editor