Skoda smashes sales records

ŠKODA has confirmed its remarkable success and growth with record sales and financial results for 2014 – breaking the one million deliveries milestone for the first time in its 120-year history.

Global deliveries increased by 12.7% to 1,037,200 vehicles (2013: 920,800) while ŠKODA's worldwide market share rose to 1.4% (2013: 1.3%). ŠKODA also posted record financial results, with sales revenue increasing 13.9% to 11.8 billion euros (2013: 10.3 billion euros), and operating profit increasing 56.5% to 817 million euros (2013: 522 million euros.

“2014 was another good year for ŠKODA," said ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “By delivering more than one million vehicles for the first time in a single year, we have sustainably established ourselves as a volume manufacturer on the international markets with our modern model range. It is on this basis that our brand will be perusing our growth strategy." ŠKODA plans to continue this success and increase sales in 2015 despite the globally challenging market environment.

In 2014 ŠKODA also set new records for the company in terms of sales revenue and profit. Sales revenue increased 13.9% to 11.8 billion euros (2013: 10.3 billion euros). Operating profit rose 56.5% to 817 million euros (2013: 522 million euros), representing 7.0% of the sales revenue (2013: 5.1%). “ŠKODA is growing profitably. Given the challenging situation on the markets and the ongoing intense competition, cost discipline continues to have the highest priority," says ŠKODA CFO Winfried Krause. Net liquidity rose 40.3% to 2.065 billion euros in 2014 after 1.472 billion euros in 2013. Investments amounted to 698 million euros in 2014 (2013: 741 million euros). Profit before tax reached 775 million euros (2013: 536 million euros), and profit after tax in 2014 totalled 665 million euros (2013: 455 million euros).

Product-driven expansion key to ongoing success

2014 was a year characterised by the most comprehensive and ambitious model campaign of all time. That growth continues in 2015 with the arrival of the new ŠKODA Fabia and new Superb.

Its dimensions and spaciousness move the Superb to the upper end of the automotive mid-class. In addition to the qualities that have made ŠKODA popular, such as functionality, space and value for money, the Superb now sets standards in terms of design and technology, and marks the dawn of a new era for ŠKODA. The new ŠKODA flagship celebrated its world premiere this February in Prague, and is due to be launched on the market in early summer, 2015.

Over the next few months, ŠKODA will be releasing even more product highlights including the new ŠKODA Octavia RS 230, the new ŠKODA Fabia Monte Carlo and the fantastic special 'Edition' model for ŠKODA's Fabia, Rapid, Octavia and Yeti series.

ŠKODA plans to increase their global sales to at least 1.5 million vehicles within the next few years. “After crossing the million mark, 1.5 million seems a whole lot closer," says Prof. Vahland. To achieve their growth targets, the manufacturer is expanding the production plants both in the Czech Republic and at their sites around the world.

ŠKODA AUTO Group figures:

* ŠKODA brand worldwide

** comprises ŠKODA AUTO Group Production of the ŠKODA brand, without production in China, Bratislava/Slovakia or Pune/India, but does include other Group brands, such as SEAT, Audi and VW

*** Number of employees without agency staff, but including trainees