Serbia August 2012: Fiat Punto Classic should still be #1

Fiat Punto Classic

* See the Top 20 best-selling brands by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Nenad for the tip *

One year after BSCB’s last update on Serbia it is time for a little refresh. New car sales in Serbia are not having the best time in 2012, down 18% year-on-year in August to 1,856 registrations, which brings the 2012 year-to-date total to 16,639 units, down a worrying 28% on 2011. The particularity of the Serbian car market is the presence of Fiat Automobili Srbija (FAS) which used to be called Zastava and whose sales are counted separately from Fiat’s in Serbia.

If at the same time last year FAS was the best-selling brand in the country by far at over 16% year-to-date, this time it is down to #3 in August with 167 sales and 9% share (-37%) and #2 year-to-date at 1,613 units and 9.6% (-57%)… Given FAS still only sells one model in the country, the Fiat Punto Classic, this model should still be #1 this year. (Note FAS also produces the 500L). However the Skoda Fabia should not be too far.

Skoda is indeed the success story of 2012 in Serbia, now distant leader with 310 sales and 16.7% in August (double its share from one year ago!) and 2,395 units and 14.4% year-to-date, down just 11%. Below Skoda and FAS, Volkswagen ranks #3 ytd (-5% only) followed by Hyundai (-17%), Ford (-21%), Opel (-33%) and Dacia (-49%). Notice Kia up 35%, Lada up 386%, Audi up 6% and BMW up 16%. Land Rover is up to #12 in August vs. #24 ytd most probably thanks to the Evoque, Citroen stopped selling in Serbia in February and Chery is already down 33% for its 2nd year of presence in the country.

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Full August and 8 months 2012 Top 20 Ranking Tables below.