UK Rapid sales figures

[RapidRonnie]

Without a VRS or at least a sporty version the rapid makes no sense to me. The Octavia is more complete and the rapid its not small enough to separate them. Probably unpopular but they should drop the Fabia now the Rapid has a sport back and do a sporty model so its like the S3 then it has role in the range occupying the slot left by the fabia. If you look at the range now the Fabia and the Roomster stick out like sore thumbs and look dated.

 

The Rapid can't replace the Fabia. Even the Spaceback is a ft longer than the Fabia hatch.

 

The Fabia 3 will be out in the second half of next year.

[HopeImRight]

BREAKING NEWS---saw my third Rapid since 1 August.  Flying off the shelves now !!

 

Was in a group of blokes the other day talking cars.

Skoda came up.  One idiot said never have a rubbish Skoda.  One said he had a fabia and his wife had an Octavia. He had looked at Rapid but would not get one because " it is only a temporary stop gap before the new Fabia comes out"

 

If all-----most----a lot----some people think of Rapid like that and say that to un-informed car buyers things could be bleak for Rapid sales.  There was too much said at launch about Rapid   "filling the gap"   between Fabia and Octavia  and this bloke at least sees it now as "temporary stop gap"  

 

Nasty.  Skoda could have to do something inventive here.

[HopeImRight]

Exciting update.   Saw a Rapid taxi today.  Since August 1st that makes 4 spotted I think.  This is some exclusive motor !!.

[Thecko]

Exciting update.   Saw a Rapid taxi today.  Since August 1st that makes 4 spotted I think.  This is some exclusive motor !!.

 

I'm closer to 10 although the vast majority of those have been on the M6 heading south and 1 of them was in Warrington town centre with EU plates of some description on it. I did see another black Rapid TSI in Pontypool last week though, was quite a surprise.

[HopeImRight]

My total in nearly 4 months is still 4.  Astonishingly in the last three months I've seen 7 brand new Fabias.

 

I don't think it is overstating it but they really do not seem to be selling where I live. Unless figures are sky high in Bratislava or somewhere it could be VW's Edsel.

[gadgetman]

I see at least 1 a day, most seem to be taxi's.

Not as common as the Octavia (seeing loads each day) but plenty about.

[RapidRonnie]

In October Skoda sold more Rapids (globally) than Citigos, Roomsters, Yetis and Superbs.

[Kenny.j]

I'm seeing more and more of them around now. I think maybe the latest updates are starting to win folk over? It's a much more polished car now. Having said that I'm happy with mine. The only thing I wish I'd got was the controls for all 4 windows rather than just the 2.

[RapidRonnie]

Overtook the Fabia globally in November:

 

 

?›    ŠKODA global deliveries to customers up by 5.3 % to 82,000 cars (November 2012: 77,900 cars)
›    ŠKODA model campaign proving its strength; eight new models in 2013
›    Sales in Europe up by 14 %; ŠKODA's market shares increase 
›    ŠKODA Octavia: up 60.9 % in Western Europe

?Mladá Boleslav, 12 December 2013 – ŠKODA’s results in November affirmed the positive trend of recent months. ŠKODA delivered 82,000 vehicles to customers worldwide, which is an increase of 5.3 % (November 2012: 77,900 vehicles). In Europe, the car manufacturer delivered 57,900 cars to customers, representing double-digit growth of 14 %, further increasing the brand’s market share in Europe. The new ŠKODA Octavia proved to be a big hit, with sales of the vehicle increasing 60.9 % in Western Europe in November.

?Between January and November 2013, ŠKODA sold 850,700 vehicles worldwide (same period last year: 873,000; -2.6 %). ŠKODA's incoming orders continue to develop positively and exceeded last year's figures in November.

“With a 5.3 % increase in November, ŠKODA has strengthened its position for the third month in a row and affirmed its upward trend in the second half of the year,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “Our model campaign is proving its increasing strength. We keep growing intensively thanks to the full availability of new models and we are continually increasing our market share in Europe. The new Octavia is doing very well, sales of the vehicle have exceeded our expectations,” he adds. Sales of the new Octavia increased by an impressive 60.9 % in Western Europe and by 23.7 % in Europe in total. The brand’s market share in Europe grew to 4 % by the end of November.

ŠKODA has stepped up another gear in the last few weeks of 2013. With eight new or revised models, 2013 has been a true 'power year' for ŠKODA. “2013 has seen the most comprehensive model campaign in the company's 118-year history,” says Werner Eichhorn. The brand’s latest ‘trick’ is the start of production on the completely redesigned Yeti in China. The popular compact SUV runs off the production line there in a version customised specifically for the local market. The car manufacturer has carried out a total of twelve production starts and eight international product launches this year.

In Western Europe, ŠKODA grew significantly in November. 34,000 customer deliveries represent an increase of 20.6 % (October 2012: 28,200). Thanks to this growth, which exceeded the market development, the brand's Western European market share grew to 3.2 % by the end of November (same period last year: 3.0 %). In Germany, the brand grew by 16.9 % to 12,300 delivered vehicles, further strengthening the position in its second strongest market as the strongest import brand. In the Netherlands, ŠKODA doubled its deliveries to customers to a total of 2,200 vehicles. The car manufacturer recorded double-figure growth in the UK (5,600 cars; up 43.7 %), in France (2,100 cars; up 13.9 %), in Switzerland (1,600 cars; up 12.0 %), in Belgium (1,300 cars; up 18.1 %), in Spain (1,300 cars; up 64.0 %), in Sweden (1,300 cars; up 18.7 %), in Finland (840 cars; up 50.4 %) and in Norway (770 cars; up 54.8 %).

In Eastern Europe, ŠKODA delivered 11,300 vehicles to customers (November 2012: 12,400; -8.7 %). By the end of November, the Czech brand had achieved a market share just short of 4 %. In Kazakhstan, ŠKODA achieved new record sales with 715 vehicles. In the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the brand grew by 10,1 % to almost 500 delivered vehicles. In Serbia, ŠKODA grew by 26.1 %. In ŠKODA’s third largest market, Russia, the manufacturer sold 7,400 cars (November 2012: 9,000; -18.0 %).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA deliveries to customers rose by 23.2 % to 12,600 cars (November 2012: 10,200). Thus, the brand grew significantly stronger than the overall market and increased the market share to 19.1 % by the end of November. ŠKODA achieved double-digit growth rates in all Central European countries. In the Czech home market, the deliveries to customers rose by 10.5 % to 5,900 cars (November 2012: 5,300). Over the eleven months, ŠKODA’s market share in the Czech Republic stood at 36.2 %.

In China, ŠKODA delivered 18,200 vehicles to customers in November (November 2012: 21,100 cars; -13.9 %). Cumulatively over the first eleven months, ŠKODA sold a total of 217,400 cars (January to November 2012: 225,900; -3.8 %). In India, a total of 1,600 customers opted for a ŠKODA (November 2012: 2.000; -19 %).


ŠKODA deliveries to customers - November 2013 (in units, rounded, arranged according to model; +/- % compared to November 2012):

ŠKODA Octavia (30,800; -6.0 %)
ŠKODA Fabia (14,500; -25.2 %)
ŠKODA Superb (7,100; -22.0 %)
ŠKODA Yeti (8,800; +30.1 %)
ŠKODA Roomster (2,900; +7.4 %)
ŠKODA Rapid (14,600; +475.1 %)
ŠKODA Citigo (only sold in Europe: 3,300; -29.6 %)

[keystonedriving]

I'm currently driving a Roomster, with a glass roof and light grey headlining.  In comparison, the Rapid feels very claustrophobic with a low roofline and very dark grey headlining.  In fairness, I could say this about almost all new Skodas, why this obsession with ultra dark interiors?

 

Some of the photos of the spaceback show light interior colours with a glass roof.  That would represent a vast improvement as far as I'm concerned.  I like the look of the spaceback but as I spend a lot of time in my car a welcoming interior is essential.  Funeral grey just won't cut it.

[Eddie-NL]

I was at the dealers a few weeks ago and I had to take a long look at both cars (Rapid & Octavia 3) to spot the difference.

 

I think the rapid will be bought by die hard skoda fans that want a good car for less money.

 

Those that want all the new toys will buy the Octavia 3 or buy something from VW

[HopeImRight]

Just a quick note. By 15 November I had seen 4 Rapids.

 

Now by 18 February my total is----still 4

 

And I am very observant and I'm looking hard.  Zilch where I live.

On the last two occasions I have sat outside my fav cafe by a very busy roundabout I have seen 10 Fiat 500s For comparison.

I notice them cos they are distinctive and I recently hired one.

[RapidRonnie]

I expect Skoda have a better method of tracking sales figures than sitting by the edge of a roundabout

[HopeImRight]

My word you are bright.  I'm not going to try to match your intelligence.

[Thecko]

I'm seeing them more regularly on the M56 driving to/from work than I was a few months ago. Saw a Spaceback last week too, didn't get a close enough look to see what spec.

[inventory-photo]

I see quite a few liftbacks around these parts, but I'm yet to spots a spaceback. Saying that, I see many more new Octys about than Rapids. I suppose at the moment, the Octy is actually cheaper on per month PCP, or it was the last time I checked.

[VRSbilly]

the Octy is actually cheaper on per month PCP

How's that?

Sent using my right thumb

[Thecko]

I've been seeing Liftbacks a fair amount during my commute of late... of course, it could be the same few ones I'm seeing regularly None with a brisky sticker in though :(