Skoda exceeds sales expectations

Skoda has revealed its sales figures for the first quarter of 2008, claiming they have exceeded the company's expectations.

Sales over the first three months of the year have totalled 173,474 vehicles - an increase of 15 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The new Fabia Estate is believed to be the main reason for this success. Launched in January, over 19,500 of this model have been delivered to customers around the world. Total sales of the Fabia for the first quarter (hatch and estate) reached 63,579 (an increase of eight per cent).

The Octavia remained popular with buyers, with nearly 71,000 sold since the beginning of 2008.

Growing demand in eastern Europe and China has been cited as the main factor behind the impressive first quarter figures, with over 27,000 Skoda vehicles being sold in eastern Europe (up 38.6 per cent) and 16,212 being purchased in China.

The new Octavia was given the Auto Express Driver Power survey Car of the Year for 2008 award. Average CO2 emissions for Skoda vehicles are 152g/km, making Skoda one of modern motoring's "greenest" manufacturers.