Škoda Second in Europe: A Real Success, But a Tsunami?

Škoda is making progress and its electric vehicles are finding their audience. However, behind the flattering announcements, the results for the first nine months of 2026 show uneven growth among models and still limited advantages in the European market.

Škoda has good reasons to smile. With 666,798 registrations between January and September 2026, the Czech manufacturer ranks second among brands in Europe, behind Volkswagen and ahead of Toyota. The ACEA ranking covers the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the EFTA markets: it concerns brands, not automotive groups.

The performance is real, but it deserves measurement. Škoda has grown by 7.5% in a market that is up by 6.3%. Its market share has thus increased from 6.2% to 6.3%. The brand is gaining ground, but not disrupting the balance. Toyota remains only 16,723 registrations behind.

September brings another nuance: Škoda registrations have only increased by 0.5%, compared to 10.2% for the European market as a whole. One month is not enough to announce a turnaround, but it prevents discussing a continuous acceleration.

Electric vehicles drive growth, several pillars decline

Globally, Škoda reports 812,400 vehicles delivered, an increase of 6.1% compared to a year ago. The Elroq reaches 92,200 units, up by 52.7%, while the Enyaq grows by 25%, totaling 72,700 units. The Kodiaq also contributes to growth, with an increase of 11.9%.

The entire range does not benefit from this dynamic, however. The Octavia remains the most delivered model but falls by 2.9%. The same trend applies to the Kamiq, Fabia, Karoq, and Superb. The results also reflect a shift in volumes within the catalog. These figures alone do not allow us to distinguish new customers from those switching from one Škoda to another.

82,000 orders: a promise to fulfill

The Epiq and Peaq have reportedly tallied over 82,000 orders as of mid-October. An encouraging sign, but distinct from the results reported at the end of September: at that time, Škoda claimed only 1,900 Epiq and 700 Peaq delivered. The new SUVs therefore primarily represent a future growth lever.

Another clarification: the 29.8% of European deliveries highlighted for rechargeable vehicles encompasses both electric and plug-in hybrids. This is not the share for electric vehicles alone.

Nonetheless, the financial result brings a strong argument: the operating margin of Škoda Auto Group has increased from 8% to 8.3%. Growth is thus accompanied by an improvement in profitability, even though net cash flow has decreased by 7.9%. The overall outcome is favorable; maintaining this profitability while delivering new models will be the next true test.

ALSO READ: Skoda Kodiaq Plug-in Hybrid: 272 hp, but a price that climbs to €65,440

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