Czech carmaker ŠKODA’s sales revenue rose by 3.1% in the period of January - September 2012, reaching 7.9 billion euros (previous year: 7.6 billion euros). At the same time, deliveries to customers rose by 7.9% to approx 717,200. At 567 million euros (September 30th, 2011: 575 million euros) the operating profit was on a par with last year’s figure also.

“ŠKODA is staying its growth course,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “We can see that the company’s growth strategy is bringing tangible results. We delivered more cars in the first nine months and raised our revenues despite some difficult market conditions,” said Vahland. “The Citigo and the Rapid have successfully rung in the largest model offensive in ŠKODA’s history. We will continue on this road, further increasing our efforts next year,” said Vahland.

As ŠKODA CFO Winfried Krause explains: “In the first three quarters of the year, ŠKODA implemented the necessary investment in models and capacity in a difficult business environment. ŠKODA also maintained operating profit at a steadily high level. Given increasing economic headwinds, we will need to manage costs strictly. We have a solid basis on which to continue executing our 2018 growth strategy.”

Investments in new models and in expanding production capacity, the precondition for the model offensive, grew to 525 million euros during the first nine months of 2012. Net liquidity as of the 30th September was in excess of 1.9 billion euros.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk