ŠkodaPortal.cz Simply clever

Mladá Boleslav, 23 September 2014 –The ŠKODA Octavia is in a class of its own in every respect. The ŠKODA Octavia Scout now completes the third-generation Octavia series: the Octavia, Octavia Combi and Octavia Combi 4x4, the Octavia RS, Octavia G-TEC and the Octavia Scout. Alongside these versions are the environmentally friendly Octavia GreenLine and the exclusive Octavia L&K model. With its versatility and outstanding features, the new ŠKODA Octavia has taken the market by storm. In Western Europe, sales of the bestseller increased 41.4% between January and August this year compared to the same period in 2013, and has set new sales records in many countries around the world.

Since introducing the third model generation in early 2013, ŠKODA has already delivered more than 344,000 Octavias and Octavia Combis to customers. In addition, the new ŠKODA Octavia is one of the most awarded vehicles in its class, and has won against premium brands in comparison tests.

"The third generation of the Octavia sets new standards in terms of space, quality, design, technology and value for money," says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Head of Sales and Marketing. "The ŠKODA Octavia shows the power of the brand as an important pillar in our international growth strategy. We are very confident that the ŠKODA Octavia will continue to establish itself over the coming years, and will win over new consumer groups around the world."

Versatile: Seven fantastic versions since early 2013

The Czech carmaker's most important model series is more attractive and varied than ever before. The ŠKODA Octavia was launched on the European market in early 2013. The new ŠKODA Octavia Combi followed shortly afterwards in May 2013. In mid-2013 the new four-wheel drive ŠKODA Octavia Combi 4×4 made its debut alongside the new ŠKODA Octavia RS – the fastest series-produced Octavia of all time. The ŠKODA Octavia GreenLine has been the most environmentally friendly ŠKODA Octavia since the end of 2013, consuming only 3.2l diesel/100km (88MPG) – corresponding to CO2 emissions of merely 85g/km. This year saw the premieres of the new ŠKODA Octavia G-TEC powered by natural gas, and most recently the new ŠKODA Octavia Scout, a mighty all-rounder with powerful off-road capabilities. Additionally, the exclusive ŠKODA Octavia L&K-version has been available on European markets for several months.

Up 41.4% in Western Europe

The broad Octavia range has been doing exceptionally well on the markets. Western European sales of the Octavia and Octavia Combi have risen 41.4% to 98,100 vehicles delivered in the eight months of 2014. Worldwide, ŠKODA delivered almost 249,100 ŠKODA Octavias (all variants), or approximately 37% of the brand's total sales in this period.

In the first eight months of this year the ŠKODA Octavia was the best-selling new vehicle in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland. The successful model recorded the best six months of all time in the markets of the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Turkey, Israel, New Zealand, Palestine and Algeria.

The new ŠKODA Octavia Combi has also done particularly well in Europe, where the model became the best-selling estate model overall in the first eight months of this year with sales of 99,400 units. The estate version accounted for 61% of the all the Octavias sold in Europe, and even 77% in Western Europe.

The four-wheel drive ŠKODA Octavia Combi 4×4 took a considerable share of this figure. More than 12.5% of the Octavias sold in Western Europe between January and August this year were fitted with four-wheel drive. During this period, the model was the best-selling four-wheel drive estate car in the compact class in Switzerland and Sweden. The best four-wheel drive Octavia ever boasts the best handling characteristics on and off the road. This is made possible through modern technology, based on a fifth-generation Haldex coupling, combined with powerful engines and innovative chassis technology.

The new ŠKODA Octavia RS is the epitome of advance technology made in Mladá Boleslav. In the first eight months of 2014, 18,400 customers around the world opted for the racy sports model – more than ever before in this time period. The new RS is the fastest series-produced Octavia of all time and reaches a top speed of 248km/h (154mph).

Cornerstone of the growth strategy

The new ŠKODA Octavia is the key model in the Czechs' international growth strategy. Over the coming years, ŠKODA plans to increase their sales worldwide to at least 1.5 million vehicles per year. Besides Europe, the manufacturer will be relying in particular on the international growth markets of China, Russia and India.

The new ŠKODA Octavia celebrated its sales premiere in in China in May 2014. The model is produced at one of Shanghai Volkswagen's plants. The new Octavia has been available in Russia since mid-2013, rolling off the production lines at the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod, in partnership with the Volkswagen Group Russia and the Russian car manufacturer GAZ. Production is carried out from CKD – going through the areas of body shop, paint shop and assembly. In India, the latest generation of the bestseller has been produced at the plant in Aurangabad since August 2013.

A tradition of success

ŠKODA is continuing the great success story of the ŠKODA Octavia with the third generation of this model. The Octavia symbolizes the rapid rise of the brand over the past two decades like no other. Its introduction in 1996 connects the brand's development into an international car manufacturer with a presence on over 100 markets around the world. Between 1996 and August 2014, ŠKODA delivered 4.4 million Octavias to customers worldwide, which corresponds to around 40% of ŠKODA's total sales within that period.

Podobné články