Chairman: China to be Skoda's largest market by 2012

Shanghai, April 30 (Gasgoo.com) The chairman of Skoda predicted at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show that if Skoda reachs its global sales target of 1 million units by 2012, China is set to become the brand's largest market worldwide.

"We have agressive plans to achieve that goal over the next few years on the product side, " Reinhard Jung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Škoda Auto, told Chinese media The Econimic Observer at the show.

Jung said Skoda will launch the Fabia in China this year with the Superb sedan coming along next year. Another Yeti car is also likely to be introduced but he declined to reveal the launch date.

He expects all these models will help Skoda to gain a 3% market share in Chinese passenger car segment.

Already, the company is expanding its dealer network in China to 100 last year, with a further 100 outlets to come by the end of this year, Jung added.

Sales are expected to rise from 27,325 units last year in China to around 60,000 in 2008. Globally Skoda sales are expected to rise by 11.1% to 700,000 units this year from 630,032 units in 2007. Western European markets have currently accounted for over half of its sales.