Bernhard Maier, ŠKODA AUTO CEO, says: “ŠKODA can look back on a solid first half-year, and the company remains on track. Our new compact SCALA and KAMIQ models have made a strong start in the market and have been very well received by our customers around the world. We anticipate some headwinds, however, due to the ongoing uncertaintieson the global markets. We expect growth impetus from the recently upgraded SUPERB and the new SUPERB SCOUT.”
The manufacturer delivered 620,900 vehicles worldwide in the first half of the year, below the record result of the previous year (January to June 2018: 652,700 vehicles, -4.9%). The main reason for this is the current situation in the Chinese car market. In the rest of the world, deliveries to customers increased by 1.6% to 495,000 vehicles in the first six months of the year (first half of 2018: 487,200 vehicles).
In the first six months of 2019, sales increased to 559,900 vehicles (+9.6%), with sales revenue rising to 10.154 billion euros (+10.8%). The increase in sales and a part of the increase in sales revenue are attributable to the recent consolidation of other Group Brands’ Indian business following ŠKODA’s assumption of responsibility for the region. This has also had a significant impact on the return on sales compared to the previous year.
Klaus-Dieter Schürmann, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Finance and IT, explains: “Despite the increasingly challenging environment with markets currently in decline, we gained market shares in Europe and overseas in the first half of 2019 and achieved a very good operating profit of 824 million euros, which is slightly above last year’s level. Our active sales management with volume and mix improvements, as well as the first effects of our extensive performance programme, have paid off. Offsetting these factors were negative exchange rate developments and the intermediate need for higher spending, particularly in light of the switch to the new WLTP standard.”
In mid-May, ŠKODA introduced its new e-mobility sub-brand iV in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava alongside the upgraded SUPERB and the new SUPERB SCOUT. In addition, the manufacturer showed the first two electric series models in the company’s history, the CITIGOeiV and the SUPERB iV. This marks ŠKODA’s official entry into the era of electromobility. By 2022, the car manufacturer will have brought out 30 new models – including more than ten electric vehicles.
ŠKODA AUTO Group* – Key figures in the first half of the year 2019/2018**
| Units | 2019 | 2018 | change in % | |||
| Deliveries to customers | Cars | 620,900 | 652,700 | (4.9) | ||
| Deliveries to customers excluding China |
Cars | 495,000 | 487,200 | 1.6 | ||
| Production*** | Cars | 528,700 | 486,200 | 8.7 | ||
| Sales**** | Cars | 559,900 | 510,700 | 9.6 | ||
| Sales revenue | Million EUR | 10,154 | 9,161 | 10.8 | ||
| Operating profit | Million EUR | 824 | 821 | 0.3 | ||
| Return on Sales | Percent | 8.1 | 9.0 | – | ||
| Investments in tangible assets | Million EUR | 369 | 276 | 33.8 | ||
| Net cash flow | Million EUR | 1,025 | 980 | 4.6 |
* The ŠKODA AUTO Group comprises ŠKODA AUTO a.s, ŠKODA AUTO Slovensko s.r.o., ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland GmbH, ŠKODA 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 company OOO VOLKSWAGEN Group RUS.
** Percentage deviations are calculated from non-rounded figures.
*** includes production in the ŠKODA AUTO Group, excluding production at partner assembly plants in China, Slovakia, Russia and Germany, but includes other Group brands such as SEAT, VW and AUDI; vehicle production excluding part/complete kits
**** includes ŠKODA AUTO Group sales to distribution companies, including other Group brands such as SEAT, VW, AUDI, PORSCHE and LAMBORGHINI; vehicle sales excluding part/complete kits
