Skoda global sales rose 15.3% year on year in 2011 to a record 879,200 units.
The brand said it made significant progress in China, India and Russia as well as setting records in some European markets.
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In central and eastern Europe deliveries rose 19% to to 231,600 units.
“This was the year in which we first implemented our 2018 growth strategy, and we did so impressively,” said CEO Winfried Vahland. “We clearly picked up speed and set a new sales record. We also greatly improved our production, sales and international market presence and once again gained significant ground in both our European home and growth markets.”
The VW unit’s 2018 target is at least 1.5m units year.
“The company has laid some excellent foundations for this in 2011. In 2012, we will continue to expand the model range significantly and further strengthen our activities both in Europe and in international markets,” added Vahland.
Russia sales last year rose 63% to a record 74,100 cars. China sales were up 22% to 220,100 units.
Indian sales rose 50% to over 30,000 units.
Skoda’s main factory in Mladá Boleslav will be expanded by mid-2012. On completion of this expansion, the plant is to produce a third model in addition to the Fabia and Octavia. In parallel, production capacity of the Octavia at the plant will rise from 800 to 1,200 vehicles daily. The Vrchlabí plant in the Czech Republic will begin production of direct-shift gearboxes (DSGs) for VW group brands Volkswagen, Seat and Audi from late 2012.
At VW Group’s Russian plant in Nizhny Novgorod, VW Group Russia will manufacture the Yeti with Russian partner GAZ. In China, both of VW Group’s joint ventures will be investing around EUR14bn in new plants and products by 2016. Currently the Fabia, Octavia and Superb are manufactured in China, with the Yeti to be added in 2013.
