Czech Auto Sales: Volvo and Skoda Auto Emerge Strong in Q1 2006

Strategic Insights -

Czech sales of Volvo station wagons and SUV models, registered as Light Utility Vehicles (LUVs), showed a positive trend in the first quarter of 2006, with 146 units sold between January and March. This represents a slight increase from the same period in 2005, when 141 LUVs were sold. In contrast, sales of Volvo models registered as regular passenger cars declined to 120 units in the first quarter, down from 134 units a year earlier. Meanwhile, Skoda Auto maintained its dominance in the local passenger car and LUV market, with its sales of LUV models skyrocketing nearly fivefold to 2,604 units by the end of March. Domestic sales of Skoda's regular passenger cars also dropped 11% on the year to 11,412 units in the first quarter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Volvo LUV sales in Q1 2006 totaled 146 units, a slight increase from 141 units in the same period in 2005.
  • Sales of Volvo regular passenger cars fell to 120 units in Q1 2006 from 134 units a year earlier.
  • Skoda Auto's domestic sales of LUV models rose almost fivefold to 2,604 units by the end of March from 561 units in Q1 2005.
  • Skoda Auto's domestic sales of regular passenger cars dropped 11% on the year to 11,412 units in Q1 2006 from 12,817 units a year earlier.
  • Volkswagen ranked as the number two seller on the local market for passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2006 with 3,431 units, up from 2,409 units a year ago.
  • Renault ranked third with 2,459 passenger cars and LUV models sold in January through March, down from 2,738 units sold in the same period of 2005.
  • Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. ranked as the fourth-biggest seller of passenger and LUV cars on the Czech market, shipping 1,977 units in January through March, up from 1,246 units a year earlier.

Statistics:

  • 146 units: Volvo LUV sales in Q1 2006
  • 141 units: Volvo LUV sales in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)
  • 2,604 units: Skoda Auto's sales of LUV models by the end of March
  • 561 units: Skoda Auto's sales of LUV models in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)
  • 11%: decrease in Skoda Auto's domestic sales of regular passenger cars in Q1 2006 compared to the same period in 2005
  • 11,412 units: Skoda Auto's domestic sales of regular passenger cars in Q1 2006
  • 12,817 units: Skoda Auto's domestic sales of regular passenger cars in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)
  • 3,431 units: Volkswagen's sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2006
  • 2,409 units: Volkswagen's sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)
  • 2,459 units: Renault's sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2006
  • 2,738 units: Renault's sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)
  • 1,977 units: Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.'s sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2006
  • 1,246 units: Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.'s sales of passenger cars and LUVs in Q1 2005 (year-over-year comparison)

Sources:

  • Dow Jones Commodities News Select via Comtex
  • Dow Jones Newswires
  • SDA (Slovak and Czech Automotive)
  • Comtex News Network, Inc.