Skoda Auto records drop in car sales worldwide

In the last decade or so, the Czech Republic's largest car manufacturer, Skoda Auto, has managed to make quite a name for itself on the international scene. As part of the Volkswagen group since 1991, it's sales have boomed both at home and abroad - until last year, that is. Estimates have shown that the company's overall international sales dropped in 2002 by a little under four percent. However, the loss was at ten percent in the Czech Republic.

Skoda Auto records drop in car sales worldwide

The brand Skoda used to be associated with cheap and nov very reliable cars for years. Some of you may still be familiar with the 105s, 120s and 130s.

Skoda SUPERB

But the Skoda Auto car manufacturer underwent a big change in the 1990s: its production was modernised and its cars became competitive on the Western market. So much so that Skoda has enjoyed quite a lot of growth in the last couple of years. However, recent estimates suggest that this trend may no longer continue: in 2001, 462,000 cars were sold, while in 2002 sales only reached 445,000 models - 17,000 less. Skoda Auto spokesman Jaroslav Cerny says three main factors were responsible for this decrease in sales:

"Some countries, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria experienced floods. Then there was also a decline in important European car markets. Lastly, there was a strong exchange rate of the Czech currency."

Now, a decrease of 4 % does not sound that dramatic. How significant is that loss for you?

"This result is the second best result in the Skoda history and we are very proud of it since there is a decline in European markets."

Nevertheless, is Skoda Auto planning to do something to make sure that the figures for 2003 will be higher than last year's?

"It's hard to say that we'll do something to increase the figures. Everything depends on the development of the markets but we are trying to improve our overall service, which also includes the delivery of spare parts to our workshops or to our dealers world-wide."