Skoda '08 China sales up 117% to 59,284 units

Skoda Auto, under the control of Volkswagen AG, sold 59,284 cars in China last year, representing a remarkable increment of 117% from a year earlier, sources reported.

The automaker expects its vehicle sales to rise 50% to 90,000 units this year, according to Fu Qiang, deputy director of Skoda Marketing & Sales Business of Shanghai Volkswagen Co.

The company plans to launch its new model, the Skoda Superb, in the Chinese market this year, said Fu, adding that it will help to expand the brand's market share to 3% from 1% in 2008.

Skoda, which has 80 authorized dealers across China currently, also plans to increase the number to 200 by the end of this year, according to Fu. In order to achieve the target, the company will strive to double its China output capacity in 2009.

According to China Knowledge's earlier report, the car manufacturer launched the Skoda Fabia sub-compact car in the Chinese market late last month. The automaker now offers two models in China, the Fabia and the Octavia.