Defying the economic crisis in Europe, the Volkswagen Group-controlled Skoda brand reported worldwide sales of 493,000 units in the first six months of the year, an impressive increase of 8.4 percent over the same period in 2011.
At the same time, the Czech automaker’s sales revenue in the first half of 2012 grew by 6.6 percent to €5.7 billion (US$7 billion), while the company recorded an operating profit of €449 million (US$550 million), up 9.0 per cent year on year.
The company noted that its investment in new products – not including capitalized development costs, rose to €217 million (US$266 million), up from €80 million (US$98 million) in the first half of 2011.
“Škoda’s growth strategy has led to positive results in the first half of this year,” commented the company’s CEO Winfried Vahland.
“We have grown in all relevant fields, thus creating a good base for the second half, which will be challenging for the automobile industry because of the economic situation in Europe,” he added.
Later in the year, Skoda plans to launch the new Rapid small sedan, which the company believes will help improve sales in the competitive compact segment.
