Israel May 2015: Kia Sportage repeats pole position

Kia Sportage is the favourite choice of Israeli customers again. Picture www.cartube.co.il

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 237 All-models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Israel retract by 4% year-on-year in May to 20.763 registrations but are still up 5% year-to-date at 118.437 units. The brands ranking returns to its 2015 order: Hyundai is back to #1 despite sales down 12% on May 2014 to 3.239 (15.6% share). Kia is #2, up 42% to 2.999 units (14.4%) thanks to the Sportage accounting for 45% of the brand’s sales in Israel this month and repeating the pole position it scored in April. Year-to-date, the Sportage quadruples its sales vs. 2014 at 4.443 and now ranks #3 overall, making it 2 Kias on the podium with the Picanto.

Toyota is down 3% to 2.459 (11.8%), placing the Corolla in 2nd place but #1 year-to-date at 6.062 deliveries and Skoda remains in 4th place thanks to sales up a splendid 34% and the Octavia strong again in 5th place. Further down, Nissan is up 26% to #8 with the Almera jumping to a best-ever #19 for its 5th month in market, Subaru surges 163% to #9 lifted by the Impreza (#11) and XV (#35) and BMW is up 72% at #20 with the X5 breaking into the Top 100 in May. Reversely, Suzuki (-27%), Renault (-34%), Mazda (-41%), Honda (-45%) and most dramatically Ford (-82%) fall apart.

Previous month: Israel April 2015: Kia Sportage leaps to pole position

One year ago: Israel May 2014: Toyota Corolla leads, Hyundai i10 and i35 on podium

Full May 2015 Top 40 All-brands and Top 237 All-models below.