Romania August 2012: Skoda Octavia and VW Jetta shine

VW Jetta

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The Romanian new car market is falling further into recession each month, down a worrying 42% year-on-year in August to 5,044 registrations and bringing the year-to-date total to 44,392 units, down 9% on 2011. The historical 100 consecutive months atop the Romanian models ranking are approaching fast for the Dacia Logan: August is #96 thanks to 704 sales at a lukewarm 14% market share. Year-to-date it is at 16.9% compared to 21.3% over the Full Year 2011. The Skoda Octavia has an outstanding month at 418 units and 8.3%, its highest share since the 8.8% it reached in March 2011.

Skoda Octavia

The Dacia Duster stays third both in August at 4.7% and year-to-date at 5.6%, while the VW Golf is up 2 spots on July to land at #4 like in the year-to-date ranking, but with 4% share this month it is one full percentage point above its 2012 level. With the Octavia, the VW Jetta is the other great performer of the month in Romania, up 9 ranks to a best-ever 5th place with 161 sales and 3.2% share and now #9 year-to-date vs. #16 in 2011. Below, the Ford Fiesta is up 3 spots to #6, the Ford Focus down one to #7 and the Renault Symbol down 4 to #8.

Great Wall Peri

Further down, the Hyundai i30 is up 7 ranks to #15, the Toyota Yaris up 8 to #17 and the VW Up! and BMW 3 Series both strong at #26 and #35 respectively. Notice also the Dacia Lodgy already slipping out of the Top 50, down 13 spots to #59 for its third month and the Great Wall Peri selling one unit (its 2nd in 2012), the only Chinese car in the Romanian ranking this month and one of 3 over the first 8 months of 2012 with the Great Wall Hover (1) and Geely CK (1). Clearly the Chinese invasion in Romania is still a (very) long way away!

Previous month: Romania July 2012: The usual suspects on top

One year ago: Romania August 2011: Dacia Duster and Renault Symbol solid

Full August 2012 Top 50 Ranking Table below.