First Award for the New Skoda Octavia

Press Release

Only several weeks after its world debut, the new Octavia won its first international award. The new Škoda Octavia model was awarded the title "The Car of the Year in Serbia and Montenegro" on the eve of a traditional international motor show in Belgrade. The title "The Best Car of the Year 2004" was bestowed on the new Octavia by a panel of judges made up of local motoring journalists associated in the organization "Auto Forum". The Škoda Octavia won the poll ahead of other nominated cars: VW Golf, Opel Astra, Fiat Panda; and Peugeot 407. Apart from this honour, a Škoda car importer, the firm AÈ Autoèaèak, won another award, a "Prestige Oscar", as the most successful car importer in Serbia and Montenegro. About seven hundred exhibitors took part in this year's edition of the international motor show in Belgrade. In addition to the new Octavia and other vehicles representing its current sales programme, the company Škoda Auto also introduced its Škoda Roomster concept car. Serbia and Montenegro belong to Škoda's traditional car customers. Škoda was the first brand to start selling its cars officially in Serbia and Montenegro after the embargo in 1996. Since 1997, Škoda has occupied the leading position in imported car sales statistics. Last year, 2,550 Škoda cars were sold on the local market, which meant a market share of 11.31%. Besides the importer, the brand has got twenty-four more selling and service points in Serbia and Montenegro.