Klaus-Dieter Schürmann, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Finance and IT, says: “Despite the demanding and challenging market environment, we achieved a sound result in the first quarter of 2019. The slight decline in operating profit is mainly due to negative exchange rate effects and higher upfront costs for new products and future technologies. By contrast, volume increases in Europe and price measures through our active sales management and cost optimisation measures had a positive effect.”
The car manufacturer delivered 307,600 vehicles to customers in the first three months of the year, slightly below the previous year’s level (January to March 2018: 316,700 vehicles, -2.9%). The ŠKODA OCTAVIA remains the brand’s bestseller (January to March 2019: 92,500 vehicles), and the KAROQ continues to be an important growth driver: in the first quarter of the year, ŠKODA delivered 35,800 of the compact SUV – more than twice as many as in the same period last year.
ŠKODA AUTO is diversifying for the future
Through Strategy 2025, ŠKODA AUTO has defined clear guidelines to transform the far-reaching change in the automotive industry – specifically regarding electromobility and connectivity – into further growth. Other key areas of action include digitising products and processes, entering new markets, and expanding the traditional car manufacturing business to include a variety of mobility services. ŠKODA AUTO intends to grow in two dimensions – firstly by continuing to increase vehicle sales and secondly by developing new business areas such as digital mobility services.
ŠKODA AUTO Group* – quarterly comparison of key figures, January to March 2019/2018**:
| Units | 2019 | 2018 | Change in % | ||||
| Deliveries to customers | Cars | 307,600 | 316,700 | -2.9 | |||
| Deliveries to customers excluding China |
Cars | 243,300 | 237,500 | +2.4 | |||
| Production*** | Cars | 258,700 | 242,800 | +6.6 | |||
| Sales**** | Cars | 274,700 | 256,200 | +7.2 | |||
| Sales revenue | Million EUR | 4,920 | 4,547 | +8.2 | |||
| Operating profit | Million EUR | 410 | 437 | -6.2 | |||
| Return on sales | Percent | 8.3 | 9.6 | ||||
| Investments in tangible assets | Million EUR | 190 | 109 | +74.3 | |||
| Net cash flow | Million EUR | 470 | 595 | -21.0 |
* The ŠKODA AUTO Group comprises ŠKODA AUTO a.s, ŠKODA AUTO Slovensko s.r.o.,
ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland GmbH, SKODA AUTO India Pvt. Ltd., Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd. (since 1.1.2019), Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. (since 1.1.2019) and a share in the profits of OOO VOLKSWAGEN Group RUS.
** Percentage deviations are calculated from non-rounded figures
*** Comprises the production of the ŠKODA Group, excluding production in partner assembly plants China, Slovakia, Russia and Germany (and till 31.12.2018 India), but including other Volkswagen Group brands such as SEAT, VW and AUDI; vehicle production excluding part/complete kits.
**** Comprises sales of the ŠKODA AUTO Group to sales companies and includes other Volkswagen Group brands, such as SEAT, VW, AUDI, PORSCHE and LAMBORGHINI; vehicle sales excluding part/complete kits.
