VW’s Czech subsidiary Skoda Auto is on track to sell 1 million cars worldwide for the first time in 2014 thanks to the addition of the new models and increased production of existing ones.
Skoda spokesman Jozef Balaz said sales exceeded 900,000 vehicles in 2013, although final figures are not yet available. Skoda aims to reach annual sales of 1.5 million by 2018 as part of VW Group’s plan to become the world’s largest carmaker.
“The trend of a build-up of orders should continue, at least in the next months, so the preconditions are there that we could reach this step (of selling 1 million cars in 2014),” Balaz was quoted as saying by Reuters. “We view that million as a logical step to meeting the (longer-term) target,” he added.
Skoda has yet to announce 2013 revenues, which were affected in the first half by the switch to a new generation of the Octavia model. However, an increase in sales in the second half has put it back on track, with Octavia making up about half of Skoda’s total 2013 sales.
The Czech carmaker is focusing on eastern markets like Russia and China to meet its 1.5 million annual target.
By Dan Mihalascu
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