Photo: Skoda
Skoda's semi-annual sales press releases starts off on a positive tone, saying that the first half of 2013 represents an important chapter for the Czech company, after it has launched so many new models. But investors are likely not going to be happy, since the 464,600 cars sold in the period from January to June represent a 5.8% decrease.
Switching production to new models is partly to blame, but weakness in European demand was also reported and could not be compensated for globally.
The company's sales revenue in the first half of 2013 was €4.97 billion, which was down 13%. Profits were also down due to increased investment. The operating profit reached 243 million Euros in the same period, 45.9% down compared to the first H1 of 2012.
“The Skoda growth offensive moves into the next stage with the new Skoda Octavia and the facelifted Superb,” explains Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “With a total of eight new or facelifted models this year, we are on the right track. On the year as a whole, we are expecting once again to surpass the previous year’s sales figures.”
The sales figures in June were slightly higher than in the same month in 2012, making June 2013 the best sales June in the company’s history. “We do however still expect some further market uncertainty,” says Vahland.
There's basically not a single ounce of good news in the numbers themselves, they don't tell the whole picture. With the brand new Octavia, the affordable Rapid and its new hatchback version, Skoda's model lineup is stronger than ever.
The company's sales revenue in the first half of 2013 was €4.97 billion, which was down 13%. Profits were also down due to increased investment. The operating profit reached 243 million Euros in the same period, 45.9% down compared to the first H1 of 2012.
“The Skoda growth offensive moves into the next stage with the new Skoda Octavia and the facelifted Superb,” explains Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “With a total of eight new or facelifted models this year, we are on the right track. On the year as a whole, we are expecting once again to surpass the previous year’s sales figures.”
The sales figures in June were slightly higher than in the same month in 2012, making June 2013 the best sales June in the company’s history. “We do however still expect some further market uncertainty,” says Vahland.
There's basically not a single ounce of good news in the numbers themselves, they don't tell the whole picture. With the brand new Octavia, the affordable Rapid and its new hatchback version, Skoda's model lineup is stronger than ever.
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