Can it be true????

[RSwag]

I was reading last Fridays cars guide at the local fish and chip shop and came across the write up o the Yeti and DSG scout. All positive and a "future looking bright" sort of feel to it but one bit of info made me twitch a little.

The statistic (if i read it correctly) was that Skoda Australia have sold 340 units year to date. Just applying basic maths, based on the fact we are we are half way through the year, that is a grand total of around 700 for the year. Thats almost 45% less than last year as they sold 1252 at years end 2009, surely this figure can't be correct??

I poked around goggle but nothing is coming up tp confirm or deny

Are these figures correct?

[Inego]

I saw that article too, but I can't remember where. Looking at the Vfacts sticky, 340 to end May sounds about right - itis awful, but there are now cars on the lots, and I've seen a lot of positive Skoda press in the last couple of weeks!

[pwcar]

Yeah, maybe a few brave buyers will go for the Superb wagon, Top Gear is a popular show and they rated it luxury car of the year, hopefully that sort of endorsement will give some encouragement and comfort to potential buyers.

[woofy]

I think it has been the low stock thing and long waiting times that put people off. Especially when Mazda and Honda have tonnes sitting around.

I have found that in the Jap car forums, the long term Skoda test in Wheels has put off many people. I read that test a few times, and from memory it was DSG issues which weren't just limited to Skoda but the local dealers didn't handle it well, it should have been a quick and easy fix.

[dsgfh]

I think it has been the low stock thing and long waiting times that put people off. Especially when Mazda and Honda have tonnes sitting around.

I have found that in the Jap car forums, the long term Skoda test in Wheels has put off many people. I read that test a few times, and from memory it was DSG issues which weren't just limited to Skoda but the local dealers didn't handle it well, it should have been a quick and easy fix.

Yup, there was a follow up just before they handed the car back that they'd had the DSG replaced & suddenly the car was quieter & significantly more fuel efficient. Shame Skoda hadn't been monitoring the car & the issues more closely.

[Brycem]

NO

VFACTS Figures for MAY 2010:

Octavia sold 65 units compared with 52 in May 2009. YTD 322 versus 2009 YTD 273.

Scout sold 10 compared with 7. YTD 47 versus 28.

Superb sold 43 compared with 15. YTD 86 versus 17 (note Superb went on sale in April?)

Roomster 1 compared with 6. YTD 4 versus 29.

Overall sales figures for May 2010 were 119 compared with 80 for May 2009. YTD 459 versus 347.

Monthly figures are up 48.8% and the yearly total 32.3%.

Lets stop all the gloom and doom and realise that the unsophiticated Australian palate will take time to educate.

Great Wall sold 547 units last month FFS.

[Swuzzlebubble]

I notice Superb Wagons listed on CarSales now.
Demand not quite ahead of supply?
Or are there technicalities dealers need to comply with re ex-demo status etc?

[dsgfh]

There were supurb wagon listings before they had landed. Carsales is just another sales channel the dealers are using for new as well as demo/second hand stock. Nothing else to read into here. Just car dealers selling cars.

[RSwag]

NO

VFACTS Figures for MAY 2010:

Octavia sold 65 units compared with 52 in May 2009. YTD 322 versus 2009 YTD 273.

Scout sold 10 compared with 7. YTD 47 versus 28.

Superb sold 43 compared with 15. YTD 86 versus 17 (note Superb went on sale in April?)

Roomster 1 compared with 6. YTD 4 versus 29.

Overall sales figures for May 2010 were 119 compared with 80 for May 2009. YTD 459 versus 347.

Monthly figures are up 48.8% and the yearly total 32.3%.

Lets stop all the gloom and doom and realise that the unsophiticated Australian palate will take time to educate.

Great Wall sold 547 units last month FFS.

It's not doom and gloom it is REALITY, given the confirmed vfacts figures from fellow dubbers you can hardly say this is statistical manipulation or misdirection on my part.

To state that monthly figures are up 48.8% is in itself misrepresentative of the truth and somewhat naive, in May 2009 they had JUST released the face lift and had their FIRST TEST DRIVE write ups. The Superb hadn't even been released yet, so to improve by a mere 40 units for an entire month nationally in 12 months with 3 new models and a mountain of exposure, positive exposure is, dare i say it, quite disheartening.

In context it is quite bad

[brad]

NO

VFACTS Figures for MAY 2010:
Octavia sold 65 units compared with 52 in May 2009. YTD 322 versus 2009 YTD 273.
Scout sold 10 compared with 7. YTD 47 versus 28.
Superb sold 43 compared with 15. YTD 86 versus 17 (note Superb went on sale in April?)
Roomster 1 compared with 6. YTD 4 versus 29.
Overall sales figures for May 2010 were 119 compared with 80 for May 2009. YTD 459 versus 347.
Monthly figures are up 48.8% and the yearly total 32.3%.

If you have access to vfacts, would you be able to update the thread & maintain the formatting that has been used previously please?

eg: like this -

August
Octavia = 112 ( YTD 542 )
Octavia Scout = 16 ( YTD 55 )
Superb = 7 ( YTD 53 )
Roomster = 10 ( YTD 46 )
Total = 145 ( UP 71 - YTD 696 )

[Brycem]

I don't have access.

In the UK you can just go a website so thought you would be able to do the same here so tried to do so.

I then emailed a chap called Jim Rutherford at Vfacts to ask him where I could find info. on Skoda sales. He kindly emailed me the information I posted on a one off basis. He tells me you need to subscribe and pay to receive the information.

RSwag - I only posted the information I was given by directly by Vfacts and did so as I reckon the correct information should be known. I did not give my interpretation of it. The statistical facts speak for themselves. I have no influence over how Skoda market/sell in Australia. I cancelled a MkVI GTI purchase (far more sensible place to put your money they all tell me) to buy the Octavia because the RS Wagon suits my needs and doesn't have a direct rival in this market. I believe in the product. I have come from a mature Skoda market where 20 years ago they were a laughing stock and slowly they became a respected vehicle. Anyone who knows anything about cars in the UK knows they are a quality vehicle that represent a higher standard of engineering and build than their price point rivals. The same applies equally here and the brand is starting at a much higher base point as there are nowhere near as many preconceptions in existence over here.

What are your concerns? You seem quite caught up in the sales figures.

[selurs]

Seriously, I'm with Brycem here...it's not a big deal at all. Think about this: 700 cars at $35000 a car (which is very conservative given the best selling Octavia is the RS, and the Superbs start well north of there) works out to almost $25 million! Okay, that's just turnover, but any company doing $25 million a year in turnover isn't doing all that badly. I wish the company *I* worked for was selling that much product! Okay, so it's not Toyota level figures, but no company is going to walk away from that much cash...I really don't think it's anything to worry about. I'd rather think what *I* would do with $25 million.

[RSwag]

Seriously, I'm with Brycem here...it's not a big deal at all. Think about this: 700 cars at $35000 a car (which is very conservative given the best selling Octavia is the RS, and the Superbs start well north of there) works out to almost $25 million! Okay, that's just turnover, but any company doing $25 million a year in turnover isn't doing all that badly. I wish the company *I* worked for was selling that much product! Okay, so it's not Toyota level figures, but no company is going to walk away from that much cash...I really don't think it's anything to worry about. I'd rather think what *I* would do with $25 million.

I think you would find that at $25 million turn over they would not be viable given the staff, infrastructure, transport (international and national) along with dealer support needed for all start ups, they are very lucky they have VW taking the brunt of the poor results. As a stand alone they wouldn't be round for much longer, i guess that is irrelevant though, they do have VW in the corner supporting and they will survive for that precise reason.

Brycem i agree whole heartedly about the product and it's superiority, this is where i find these sort of figures hard to swallow. I did buy a VW but i would honestly prefer to be the one with the badge that doesn't represent the kind of "semi-prestigious" w#$k factor that it is starting to portray. It is b all accounts the smarter choice but when it came to forking out the dollars i couldn't risk being left with something that is worth less than nothing in 3 years because it was still in the self imposed "start up mode".

I hope this is the tipping point and they can make up ground quickly with the new wagon, new engines and the much needed pricing restructure. Although some would disagree i have a keen interest in seeing them move beyond a unknown comical brand.

[Jake02]

I think you would find that at $25 million turn over they would not be viable given the staff, infrastructure, transport (international and national) along with dealer support needed for all start ups, they are very lucky they have VW taking the brunt of the poor results. As a stand alone they wouldn't be round for much longer, i guess that is irrelevant though, they do have VW in the corner supporting and they will survive for that precise reason.

Brycem i agree whole heartedly about the product and it's superiority, this is where i find these sort of figures hard to swallow. I did buy a VW but i would honestly prefer to be the one with the badge that doesn't represent the kind of "semi-prestigious" w#$k factor that it is starting to portray. It is b all accounts the smarter choice but when it came to forking out the dollars i couldn't risk being left with something that is worth less than nothing in 3 years because it was still in the self imposed "start up mode".

I hope this is the tipping point and they can make up ground quickly with the new wagon, new engines and the much needed pricing restructure. Although some would disagree i have a keen interest in seeing them move beyond a unknown comical brand.

I'm sorry but I think that you are so pessimistic about Skoda Australia because you don't even own one, being a Golf Wagon owner and all. Skoda Australia's sales are slowly climbing. Yes they have more models and a better range, and that's why sales are slowly on the up. Skoda themselves have said all they are looking for is growth, and that's what they're getting and that's why I'm happy for them. Yes, I'd love to see more on the road, yes I'd love to see the Yeti, Fabia and Roomster (once again) on our shores, yes I'd love to see Skoda actually advertising their own cars for more than just the new period of a model. I know all of these things will come eventually so right now I'm taking everything in and going with the flow.

I know it keeps coming up, but this forum has discussed the sales part many, many times. Yes they're not selling as many as they should, but it's a bit old now. From now on, I only want good sales reports! The average per month is getting higher as well .

[RSwag]

I'm sorry but I think that you are so pessimistic about Skoda Australia because you don't even own one, being a Golf Wagon owner and all.

From now on, I only want good sales reports! The average per month is getting higher as well .

I would love nothing more than Skoda to see the growth and fortune it deserves, but the fact remains it will not happen anytime soon. Even the die hards on here believe it is not good enough to find traction in this country for another 5 years +, what hope does it really have???

Given the cold hard fact (thats vfacts) has it pegged around 50% down from its annual volume of 2009 (which was a dismal 1200 odd) then don't expect your "positive news" anytime soon, in fact stop looking at the figures all together if i were you Jake!!