Skoda Great Britain Finishes 2004 on a High Note

Press Release

Å koda sold more than 35,000 new cars across Great Britain in 2004, taking a 1.4% market share while strengthening its model line up and retail network.

Highlights include:

• New Octavia sales were 30% ahead of target, showing the popularity of the new-generation family-sized Octavia. From launch in July 2004, sales reached 3,801. Not content to win group tests against competitors in both the lower-medium and upper-medium segments in What Car? and become the first five-star car in Test Drive, Å koda's new mid-sizer took Best Family Car honours in the Daily Express at year end.

• The Fabia vRS was so hot in its first full year of sales - 150% over forecast - that production was increased to meet demand. Named Best Performance Diesel by Diesel Car magazine, the Fabia vRS has defined an entirely new concept in driving. Nearly 3,000 new Fabia vRS owners know that it is possible to have both fantastic practicality and great performance in a small hatch.

• Fabia vRS has built on the success of the established Octavia vRS. Jointly they captured 12% of Å koda's sales in 2004. The vRS range embodies Å koda's tradition in motorsport - stretching back for more than 100 years - and delivers the best combination of sportiness and practicality for the way people use cars today.

• Superb sales continued to grow in 2004, with sales up 10% while the upper-medium sector in which it competes declined by 4.5%. Å koda's flagship model continues to impress both retail and fleet buyers with its high quality, luxurious space and great value.

• Å koda's fleet sales exceeded 10,000 for the first time in history. Fleet customers accounted for 10,030 sales, 28% of the total. In addition to end-user fleets and contract hire and lease companies that account for the majority of sales, 85% of the UK's police forces drive Skodas, a testament to the product.

Sales are only part of the Å koda story in 2004, though. Å koda's trophy cabinet continues to fill, with awards for customer satisfaction adding to the product accolades:

• Å koda achieved second place overall in the 2004 J. D. Power Survey of Customer Satisfaction, with 98% of Å koda owners saying they would recommend their car to a friend. Pipped to the top only by one of the luxury brands, it was the sixth year in a row that Å koda has been in the top five makes.

• In the Auto Express Driver Power Survey, Å koda was second overall. As in the J. D. Power survey, nine out of ten owners indicated they would recommend their car to a friend, based on their great experience in owning and driving their Å kodas.

• In the BBC Top Gear owner satisfaction survey, Å koda also came in second overall and for the second year running. The Octavia was named best in the Medium/Family category, and, continuing a familiar theme, nine out of ten owners indicated they would buy another Å koda.

Chris Craft, Å koda UK Brand Director commented, "I am particularly pleased with our results in the various customer satisfaction surveys, demonstrating we have continued to impress our customers. This has been achieved off a platform of providing high quality cars with character, offering genuine value for money throughout the ownership experience and delivering all of that through a network of retailers who put customer relationships first.

"Å koda enjoys terrific customer loyalty as people value the Å koda ownership experience and, with products like vRS and new Octavia, we are gaining many new customers. 2005 will see us broaden our appeal further with the introduction of the new Octavia Estate including 4x4 version, Sport derivatives of Fabia and Octavia and the luxury L&K version of the Octavia. Through these vehicles, we will continue to deliver the excellent practicality people expect from a Å koda, with features and capability they wouldn't expect."