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On yesterday’s final stage of the Tour de France, the ŠKODA KODIAQ was first across the finish line. According to former Tour winner Stephen Roche, the brand’s new SUV cuts a fine figure on the bumpy Champs-Élysées boulevard. “The ŠKODA KODIAQ offers a particularly generous amount of space”, said Roche, who sat behind the wheel of the SUV. “Its ride is very pleasant and the car responds to all your commands with a high degree of precision. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ŠKODA KODIAQ on its Tour debut”, said the Irishman, who acts as a brand ambassador for the Czech car manufacturer.

As the vehicle partner, ŠKODA provided around 250 support and escort vehicles as well as more than 50 team cars. One of those was the ‘Red Car’ – a ŠKODA SUPERB in Corrida Red, which served as official lead car for all 21 stages. In a similar design – with a red, grey and black camouflage car wrap – the ŠKODA KODIAQ led the peloton across the 21st and final stage to the finish in Paris.

Stephen Roche in an interview: “Paris is an electrifying experience”

Mr Roche, you have already experienced the finale of the Tour de France in Paris on multiple occasions – do you still get butterflies when you drive along the Champs-Élysées?

Stephen Roche: Yes, I don’t think that will ever change. This great city, all the people, the cheering – it’s an electrifying experience. It brings back memories from 1987. In cycling, there is nothing better than the finale of the Tour de France in Paris. Here at the finish, all the hard work of the previous three weeks evaporates. You’re just happy to be here.

This year you were able to drive a very special car on the last stage. What was your impression?

Stephen Roche: Throughout the entire Tour, the ‘Red Car’, a ŠKODA SUPERB, has lead the peloton. It’s a great car – spacious, comfortable and easy to drive. But the surprise for me this year was the new ŠKODA KODIAQ SUV. It was the first SUV ever that the A.S.O. has allowed to lead the finale in Paris. This is a special honour for such a great car. The ŠKODA KODIAQ provides an extremely generous amount of space, its ride is very pleasant and the car responds to all your commands with a high degree of precision. It was great fun to drive it.

As a ŠKODA ambassador, how have you found the experience of this year’s Tour?

Stephen Roche: I rode some of the stages in the ŠKODA SUPERB. I also hosted some guest events, cycling together with them and watching the Tour.

What impression has ŠKODA, as sponsor of the Tour de France, made on you?

Stephen Roche:ŠKODA impressed with absolute professionalism. The ŠKODA team comprises of hundreds of people, yet everyone knows exactly what they have to do at all times. They all do a wonderful job – you can just sense the brand’s close connection to cycling and their enthusiasm for it. I would also like to pay the drivers a compliment. It is enormously difficult to support the cyclists in the peloton without disturbing them.

Stephen Roche – a brief profile

He is a living legend: in 1987, Stephen Roche became the first, and so far the only, Irishman to win the Tour de France. At the end of an exciting tour, during which the yellow jersey changed hands nine times, he crossed the finish line with a lead of 40 seconds – he had not overtaken the runner-up Pedro Delgado from Spain until the final time trial. In the same year, Roche also won the Giro d’Italia and UCI Road World Championships. Eddy Merckx is the only other cyclist to win the triple.

The new ŠKODA KODIAQ

The ŠKODA KODIAQ marks the beginning of the Czech brand’s global SUV campaign. It represents all of ŠKODA’s strengths – a distinct design that is full of character, an exceptionally large amount of space, a high level of functionality and the philosophy of the ‘Simply Clever’ features.

At 4.70 metres long, the SUV offers, along with excellent all-round qualities, the largest boot within its vehicle class and an optional third row of seats. Comprehensive connectivity, modern assistance systems and future-orientated infotainment are further highlights of the ŠKODA KODIAQ.

The Czech car manufacturer’s SUV will celebrate its world premiere on 1st September 2016 in Berlin. At the end of September this year, the ŠKODA KODIAQ will visit Paris once again – as a guest at the motor show in the French capital. The market launch will be at the beginning of 2017.

The name KODIAQ refers to the Kodiak bear, who lives on the island of the same name off the southern coast of Alaska. Size, strength, sense of family and outdoor skills – the bear and the new ŠKODA SUV both share common character traits.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

“ŠKODA did very well in the first half of the year, and the company’s stable growth continues,” says ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing Werner Eichhorn. “The sales record is the result of an attractive model range and our team’s great performance. The strong sales figures in the first six months give us confidence for the second half of the year.”

In Western Europe, ŠKODA grew in June and the first half of the year. Compared to the same month last year, deliveries increased by 5.3% to 45,000 units (June 2015: 42,700 vehicles). From January to June, the brand’s sales improved by 7.5% to 242,500 vehicles. In Germany, sales increased in this period by 6.9% to 86,500 units. The Czech car manufacturer recorded double-digit growth in June in the Netherlands (1600 vehicles; up 37.3%), France (2600 vehicles; up 21.2%), Great Britain (8500 vehicles; 17.8%), Italy (2000 vehicles; up 27.2%) and Spain where sales increased 31% to 2400 vehicles.

ŠKODA also recorded a significant sales increase in Central Europe. Sales in June increased 13% to 17,200 vehicles (June 2015: 15,300 vehicles). In the first half, ŠKODA sold 96,300 units and achieved an increase of 8.3%. In their home market – the Czech Republic – sales increased 7% to 8200 vehicles in June, and 7.9% to 46,200 units in the first half of the year. In Croatia (500 vehicles; up 18.4%), Poland (5200 vehicles; 21.7%) and Hungary (1000 vehicles, up 30.7%), deliveries increased in double digits.

In Eastern Europe, excluding Russia ŠKODA surpassed the previous June by 12.8% with 3300 vehicles (June 2015: 2900 vehicles). In the first half of the year, the Czech manufacturer even grew in the tight markets (17,000 vehicles; up 6.5%) and the brand’s market share increased by 14.6% to 8.5%. In Russia, ŠKODA recorded an increase of 8.9% (4800 vehicles) compared to the same month last year (June 2015: 4400 vehicles). Between January and June, ŠKODA sold 26,900 vehicles (first half of 2015: 28,000), and the company’s market share increased significantly – by 12.8% to 4.3%. Sales figures also increased in the Baltic countries (500 vehicles; up 3.7%), Bosnia (100 vehicles; up 96.9%), Bulgaria (300 vehicles; up 3.3%), Romania (1000 vehicles; up 32.8%) and Ukraine (300 vehicles, up 202.7%).

ŠKODA also surpassed last year’s sales figures in China – the company’s strongest market worldwide: In June, sales climbed by 11.8% (22,400 vehicles). The six-month balance also closed positively with an increase of 5.4% (145,800 vehicles). In addition, ŠKODA recorded growth in New Zealand (100 vehicles; up 12.8%) and Taiwan (400 vehicles; up 46.2%).

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in June 2016 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in % compared to June 2015):

ŠKODA CITIGO (sold only in Europe: 4000; -8.7 %)
ŠKODA FABIA (19,600; +3.0 %)
ŠKODA RAPID (17,700; +6.2 %)
ŠKODA OCTAVIA (36,000; -5.4 %)
ŠKODA SUPERB (12,600; +108.2 %)
ŠKODA YETI (8900; -0.4 %)

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in the first half of 2016 (in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in % compared to the first half of 2015):

ŠKODA CITIGO (sold only in Europe: 20,000; -3.2 %)
ŠKODA FABIA (104,700; +14.0 %)
ŠKODA RAPID (102,600; -5.1 %)
ŠKODA OCTAVIA (219,500; -1.9 %)
ŠKODA SUPERB (70,100; +81.1 %)
ŠKODA YETI (52,400; +11.7 %)

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Mladá Boleslav/Paris, 25 July 2016: The night before the KODIAQ’s high-profile appearance, ŠKODA was getting familiar with the local conditions, as on the last day of this year’s Tour the new ŠKODA KODIAQ was set to lead the racer field. With a start in Chantilly and finish in Paris, the stage stretches over 113 kilometres.

For its Tour premiere the new SUV by ŠKODA got a brand new camouflage cover in red, grey and black. The special camouflage foil with facets made of crystal-like elements matches the look of the Red Car, the ŠKODA Superb in Corrida Red. The Red Car serves as a mobile control centre of the Tour de France and is used by the race Director Christian Prudhomme.

Behind the steering wheel during the first public appearance of ŠKODA KODIAQ was former cycling professional Stephen Roche. The Irish rider triumphed in the 1987 Tour de France and currently represents the Czech manufacturer as a brand ambassador.

ŠKODA is supporting the Tour de France for the thirteenth consecutive time as the official partner. The brand is also the sponsor of the Green Jersey worn by the leader of the points classification for the second time. Simultaneously, ŠKODA acts as the official vehicle partner of the race, providing a total of 250 cars as organisational and support vehicles as well as more than 50 team cars.

The ŠKODA KODIAQ is set to make its next appearance in Paris in late September as a guest of the motor show, this time without a camouflage cover. Going on sale in early 2017, the SUV marks the beginning of ŠKODA’s world-wide SUV offensive and will be promoted under the caption ‘Discover new grounds’.

The ŠKODA KODIAQ represents all the strengths of the Czech brand, featuring a distinct design full of character, exceptionally spacious interior, high level of functionality and numerous Simply Clever solutions. At 4.7 metres in length the SUV offers the largest boot space in its class and a customisable third row of seats. Other highlights of the new ŠKODA KODIAQ include extensive connectivity options, modern driver assist systems and a future-oriented infotainment system.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Milton Keynes, 19 July 2016: As thousands of families pack up the car for every possible eventuality this summer, ŠKODA wants to remind customers that checking the health of their vehicle is just as important as remembering to charge the iPads.

For just £30, ŠKODA customers can book their car in at one of ŠKODA's retailers across the UK for a Summer Health Check delivered by fully-trained technicians. No detail is too small for the team as they carry out a check on tyres, lights, brakes, battery, air-conditioning system and fluids.

The Summer Health Check also includes a complimentary ŠKODA picnic blanket worth £15, perfect for holiday picnics on the beach. And for those unsure what in-car items are required by law when driving abroad, ŠKODA’s free European driving guide has all the answers. Whether it’s a GB sticker, a warning triangle or fluorescent vests, all can be purchased from local ŠKODA retailers.

Warren Richards, Head of Service and Parts Operations at ŠKODA UK said, "Families will be packing up the car ready for holidays all over the UK in the coming week. Our Health Check gives our customers peace of mind that their vehicle is in perfect condition."

"Customers can rely on our fully-trained technicians to deliver an outstanding service and a hassle-free experience. Our technicians focus on the areas most likely to have suffered wear and tear in between recommended service intervals such as brakes and tyres, which can play on motorists' mind during long journeys.”

To book a Summer Health Check visit www.skoda.co.uk or visit your local retailer.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk