Skoda Auto, the Czech Republic's largest auto maker, said its car sales in 2013 fell 2% to 920,800 mainly due to a weak first-half when customers were still waiting for the company’s renewed models. Skoda Auto launched eight new or model variants in 2013, including a new generation of its flagship Octavia model.

In December alone, Skoda sold 70,000 cars, up 5.8% on the year and the best ever result for the last month of the year. Sales grew for the fourth straight month in December.

Sales in Western Europe, Skoda's largest market, increased by 3.1% to 369,600 units in 2013 outperforming the overall declining market and boosting the company’s share to 3.2%. In Eastern Europe the company delivered 125,400 cars in 2013, down 8.5% y/y. In Central Europe Skoda sales totalled 126,500, up 2% y/y.

China remained Skoda's largest single market in 2013 although sales there were 3.7% lower on the year at 227,000 units.

Octavia was again Skoda best-selling model with 359,600 deliveries in 2013, down 12.2% y/y. Fabia followed with 202,000 sold units, down 16% y/y.

Skoda, owned by German auto group Volkswagen targets to boost annual worldwide sales to 1.5mn by 2018. In order to do so the car maker will introduce a new or revised model on average every six months until 2016. For 2014 the company is targeting to sell a record-high of one million cars. Skoda’s growth strategy is part of its parent’s plan to overtake General Motors and Toyota Motor Corp as the world’s biggest carmaker by 2018.