Bulgaria August-October 2016: Nissan Qashqai impresses

The Nissan Qashqai is #1 in Bulgaria in August, September and October. 

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and Top 190 All-models by clicking on the title *

After a couple of months hiatus, Bulgaria is back with a vengeance on BSCB. In August, an estimated 2.507 new cars found a buyer, a 26% year-on-year uplift, bringing the year-to-date total after 8 months to 20.752, up 8% on 2015. Dacia remains the most popular carmaker at 11% share but drops 11% whereas next-in-line Renault gains 157%, Toyota is up 79% and Skoda up 20%. Notice also Nissan up 51%, Ford up 29%, Peugeot up 70% and Land Rover up 120%. Model-wise, the Nissan Qashqai takes the lead in August with 6.5% share above the Skoda Octavia (4.3%) and Dacia Dokker (3.8%) with the Renault Captur (+14 spots on July), Toyota Corolla (+10) and Renault Clio IV (+5) in tow.

Only September/October combined data is available and over the two months the Bulgarian market is up 11% to 5.362 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 9% to 26.114. Renault takes the lead of the brands ranking thanks to deliveries up 49% to 12.2% share, distancing Dacia (-10%), Skoda (+4%) and Volkswagen (+18%). Ford (+21%), Kia (+36%), Lada (+255%), Land Rover (+88%), Suzuki (+59%) and Honda (+41%) also shine. The Nissan Qashqai is one again in the lead with a mammoth 11.6% share, ahead of the Dacia Dokker, Renault Captur and Skoda Octavia. This is however not enough to snap the YTD leadership away from the Dokker at 1.391 units vs. 1.191 for the Qashqai. Other great performers include the Renault Mégane up 30 spots on August to #9 and the Kia Rio up 18 to #12.

A caveat to these results is the fact that Bulgaria sales figures are skewed by re-exports to other European Union countries, with a large portion of new car sales in the country never making it to local roads – as much as 30% – thanks to Bulgaria displaying some of the lowest car prices in the EU. See here for more on this phenomenon.

Previous month: Bulgaria July 2016: Dacia outpaces market up 6%

One year ago (1): Bulgaria August 2015: Dacia Dokker and Sandero on top

One year ago (2): Bulgaria September 2015: Dacia Dokker leads, Toyota Corolla up to #4

One year ago (3): Bulgaria October 2015: Nissan Qashqai distances Dacia Dokker & Sandero

Full August, September-October Top 30 brands and Top 190 All-models below.