Skoda posted an 8.4-percent year-on-year increase in global sales in the first half of 2012 to a record 493,000 vehicles, thanks to the strong demand Germany and China. The carmaker likewise logged a 7.5 percent jump in deliveries in June 2012 to 87,400. Skoda remarked that it managed to post sales growth larger than the market in most regions, although it is wary of a more difficult second half. Skoda posted a 10.5 percent year-on-year jump in Germany, its largest market in Europe, to 14,600 in June. The brand also posted a 5.5 percent growth in China, its largest global market since 2010, to 20,100, boosted particularly by the popularity of the Octavia, which logged a 20.3 percent hike in sales to 12,400 units. Skoda posted a 36-percent growth in sales in Russia to 9,600 vehicles, sparked by 180-percent jumps in sales for its Jeti small sports utility vehicle to 1,900 units. In a statement, Skoda chairman Winfried Vahland said that they are watching markets carefully and are expecting significantly stronger headwinds in the second half of 2012. Skoda is hoping that its new Rapid compact saloon will help boost demand when it is rolled out in Europe in the autumn.
Skoda logs 8.4 percent growth in global sales in first half 2012
by Gerald Ferreira, Email, 13 Jul, 2012
