Skoda Sets Sixth Consecutive Year Of Record Sales

ŠkodaAuto has completed another record-breaking year in 2002, with sales totalling 37,687 vehicles, resulting in a 1.5 per cent market share for the year. The sales total represents an increase of 4.5 per cent over 2001, ahead of the overall market increase of 4.3 per cent.

The result total means that Škoda has increased sales in the UK for each of the past six years, with sales increasing 290 per cent since 1996. The brand offers three models, the award-winning Fabia supermini, the Octavia range of family and sporty cars, and the newest addition, the upper medium segment Superb.

Fabia sales led the way with a total of 21,928 hatchback, estate and saloons sold. These made up 58 per cent of Škoda’s total sales, outpacing the supermini segment in the overall market, which accounted for about one in three of all cars sold. The Fabia hatch accounted for 15,573 of the total, with 5,526 estates and 829 saloons accounting for the rest. The Fabia Blackline and Silverline Special Editions were so popular, with 1,615 sales, that Škoda are bringing back the Silverline model in 2003, again in limited numbers.

Octavia sales increased in 2002, totalling 14,766. The hatchback accounted for two-thirds of this total and included a record 1,577 sales of the Octavia vRS performance hatchback, to be joined by a vRS Estate model in February 2003.

The new Škoda Superb, launched in late May, out–performed predictions with 983 sales. Available in three trim levels and six engine choices, the most popular model is the 1.9 130bhpTDI PD, with 405 sales, followed by the 1.8T petrol, with 188 sales.

Diesel sales of 16,819 accounted for nearly 49 per cent of Škoda sales in 2002, ahead of the overall market, where they accounted for 38 per cent of sales. Škoda’s diesel engines are available in all three model ranges, from the Fabia SDI through the Octavia 1.9 TDI to the Superb 2.8 V6 TDI.

Business sales continue to grow at an explosive pace in Škoda. The total of 8,810 is an increase of 33.7 per cent over 2001, far ahead of the overall market increase of 6 per cent.

Škoda Brand Director Rob Tracey is delighted. "This has been another great year for Škoda. The brand’s fantastic growth over the past six years is a direct result of the quality and great value of our cars and the outstanding work done by our retail network. The launch of the Superb in 2002 has given us a wider range of vehicles and we’re looking forward to adding even more new customers to the Škoda family in 2003."