ŠKODA Ireland has announced that sales figures are up 26% from 2013 with 3,544 new vehicles delivered to customers during the first quarter of the year.

Growing to a record sixth position in the Irish car market with 7.1% market share, this growth brings the brand one step closer to achieving its strategic target of 8% market share.

Growth in 2014 is attributed to a number of factors including the opening of four new dealerships; Spirit ŠKODA in Sandyford, Brady’s Cavan, Mullingar Autos and Michael Moore Car Sales in Athlone, bringing the brand’s dealer network to 25.

An increasing number of customers are also availing of the competitive ŠKODA finance offers available through Volkswagen Bank. During the first quarter of 2014, 27% of new car customers purchased their vehicles using ŠKODA finance. Volkswagen Financial Services trading as ŠKODA Finance have also shown significant growth with an increase of 37% on same period last year providing €16.7 million to ŠKODA customers in the first quarter of which €14.0m was supplied to new car customers and €2.7m to support their network in financing pre-owned vehicle sales  to date in 2014.

Commenting John Donegan, Brand Director ŠKODA Ireland said, “After a strong start to 2014, we are confident we can build on the success of Q1 with the arrival of the Octavia Scout & Octavia L&K in July and a new Fabia super-mini in early 2015. Our growth can be attributed to a solid and committed dealer network and fantastic consumer offers through ŠKODA Fianance”.

ŠKODA’ is also looking forward to the arrival of the latest addition to ŠKODA’s model range, the new flagship Superb Laurin & Klement. The Laurent & Klement is the most luxurious grade of ŠKODA available and there will be further models with this specification arriving in the coming months.