Skoda Sales Continue To Grow In July

• Global sales up 13.4% when compared with YTD July 2009
• Škoda UK registrations increase by 3.9% in July, despite overall market decline of 13.3%
• Record YTD registrations in the UK of 25,800, up 44% from 2009

Škoda Auto worldwide sales continued to grow in July 2010. The number of vehicles delivered to customers year-to-date has continued to increase, reaching 437,260 (as at 31 July, 2010), up 13.4% from 2009. In July alone, Škoda sold 58,513 cars, 4.8% more than in July 2009.

Two contributing factors behind this positive result were the Chinese market, where Škoda's sales in July were up 54.3% (15,549 vehicles more) when compared with the same period in 2009, and the continued growth in registrations in UK, despite an overall decline in the market.

Škoda UK registered 3,059 cars during July 2010, an increase of 3.9% over the same period last year, in spite of the absence of the government-subsidised vehicle scrappage scheme. The first seven months of 2010 represent the company's best ever trading period, with year-to-date registrations now standing at nearly 25,800 cars, up 44% from 2009.

The company's strongest-ever model range, which includes the recently facelifted Fabia as well as the multi-award winning Yeti and Superb continue to woo UK customers. The range has been bolstered by the recent introduction of the fastest ever road-going Fabia, the stunning vRS, as well as the greenest Škoda ever, the Fabia Greeline II Estate, which emits just 89g/km CO2 and can achieve an impressive 932 miles on a single 45 litre tank.

Škoda Auto also performed well in other markets, increasing its sales over the first seven months of this year by 70.4% in overseas regions and by 9.3% in Eastern Europe, despite the continuing difficult economic climate.

Škoda's sales also grew in its domestic market; Czech customers bought 34,454 vehicles from January to July 2010 (an increase of 11.4% more than last year, increasing market share in the Czech Republic to 35.1%). With 7,667 new Škodas registered in July, the brand's second largest market after China is Germany. Although sales in the first seven months of the year fell by 38% when compared with 2009 (due to the end of the scrappage scheme), 2010 sales remain higher than that achieved in the “standard” year of 2008, with 75,223 newly registered Škodas. As a result, the brand maintains its position as the largest importer in Germany.

The most popular Škoda vehicles worldwide in July 2010 (as compared with July 2009) were Octavia (23,988 vehicles/+11.9 %) and Fabia (17,669 vehicles/-24.7 %).

Reinhard Fleger, Škoda Auto Board of Directors Member for Sales and Marketing commented: “These figures show clearly how much our customers worldwide trust the Škoda brand and its products.”