Skoda Auto Deliveries Fall 19.1% In 2020

Skoda Auto production line

Škoda Auto delivered almost 20 percent fewer cars year-on-year in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The automaker delivered 1,004,800 vehicles to its customers worldwide, 19.1 percent less than in 2019 when it delivered 1,242,800 vehicles. The carmaker said in a press release. The most significant drop between models occurred at the Fabia.

The 39-day shutdown of production facilities and the temporary disruption of sales channels in the second quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic are behind the decline in supply.

The highest year-on-year decline among models was recorded by Fabia, whose deliveries fell by 39 percent to 105,500 vehicles. On the other hand, deliveries of the Scala and Kamiq models increased by 61.7 percent to 63,200 vehicles and 99 percent to 128,500 vehicles.

“More than one million vehicles delivered to customers around the world is a great success for Škoda Auto. Especially with the coronavirus pandemic and the associated five-week production interruption during the first wave last spring. I would like to thank the entire sales team, our importers and dealers. The same thanks go to our colleagues in production, quality management, and all the other Škoda drivers who fought for every car produced,” said Chairman Thomas Schäfer.

In the Czech domestic market, deliveries to customers fell by 11.6 percent last year to 83,200 cars. In China, the world’s largest market, Skoda’s deliveries fell by 38.7 percent year on year to 173,000 vehicles delivered.

In Western Europe, the carmaker recorded a total of 434,500 deliveries to customers in 2020, down 16.5 percent year on year. In Germany, the brand’s second-largest market, a total of 161,800 vehicles were delivered to customers last year, a year-on-year decrease of 15.4 percent.

In Central Europe, Škoda Auto delivered 181,900 vehicles to customers from January to December 2020, 15.7 percent less than the previous year.

In Eastern Europe without Russia, Škoda fell by 20.8 percent to 39,800 cars, while in Russia, the carmaker strengthened by 6.8 percent to 94,600 cars.

The best-selling model was traditionally the Octavia, of which the company delivered 257,400, which represents a year-on-year decrease of 29.2 percent. Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs came in second and third, respectively.

The larger Kodiaq model was down 131,600 units 23.4 percent year-on-year. Škoda delivered 137,200 units to the smaller Karoq SUV to customers, representing a decrease of 10.1 percent compared to 2019.

Škoda Auto operates three production plants in the Czech Republic, producing in China, Russia, Slovakia, and India, mostly through group partnerships and Ukraine and Kazakhstan in cooperation with local partners. It is active in more than 100 markets. It employs almost 39,000 people, of which nearly 34,000 are located in the Czech Republic.