Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Kia Rio

* NOW CORRECTED with actuals for the Top 20 best-selling models! Click on title to see *

After dropping 39% to its lowest level in 11 years last month at just 1,727 registrations, the Croatian new car market has now hit full frontal recession with a 45% fall in September to 1,767 units, the 2nd lowest monthly result since April 2001. The year-to-date total stands at 26,401 units, down 20% on 2011. The Opel Astra keeps the lead for the 3rd month in a row and the 4th time this year with 88 sales and 5%, reinforcing its 2012 leadership at 1,075 units and 4.1%.

Peugeot 208

Chevrolet Cruze

Excellent month for the Peugeot 208 up 5 ranks to #2 with 59 sales and 3.3% and the Citroen C4 up one further spot to #2 with 57 units and 3.2% and #4 year-to-date at 3.1%. The Kia Rio is the other great performer this month, up 9 ranks on August to land at a best-ever #4 thanks to 52 sales at 2.9%. It is #15 year-to-date. Notice also the Chevrolet Cruze up from outside the Top 20 last month to #6 in September at 48 units and 2.7%, the VW Up! back into the Top 10 at #10 and the Hyundai i20 at #15.

Previous month: Croatia August 2012: Skoda Fabia and Citroen C4 shine

One year ago: Croatia September 2011: Taxi fleet boosts VW Passat to #1

Full September 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Skoda Fabia

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 20 best-selling models! Click on title to see *

New car sales are traditionally slow during summer in Croatia but this August is taking it a little too far: at 1,727 units, the market is down a worrying 39% year-on-year and hits its lowest monthly result in over 10 years, since April 2001 exactly. Year-to-date, the market is down 17% on 2011 to 24,634 units. Keeping in mind that the models ranking takes into account the Top 20 year-to-date best-sellers only (and therefore don’t include the Peugeot 208, #2 last month), the Opel Astra manages to hold the top spot for the 2nd consecutive month and the third time this year with 78 sales and 4.5%, reinforcing its 2012 year-to-date leadership at 987 units and 4%.

Citroen C4

The following 4 models all do exceptionally well this month: the Skoda Fabia is up 12 spots on July to a fantastic 2nd place with 70 sales and 4.1%, ahead of the Citroen C4 up 7 spots to #3 (its highest ranking anywhere in the world this month), ex-aequo with the Chevrolet Aveo up 11 ranks, with the Kia Cee’d down 2 spots to a still shiny 5th place vs. #14 year-to-date. Notice also the Peugeot 208 down 5 ranks to #7, the Kia Rio up 9 to #13 and the Hyundai i20 up to #14.

Previous month: Croatia July 2012: Opel Astra and Peugeot 208 on top

One year ago: Croatia August 2012: Hyundai i30 is the summer hit

Full August 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Opel Astra 

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Luka *

With summer come slower sales in Croatia and with slower sales come surprises… At 2,706 registrations the Croatian new car market is down a gloomy 26% year-on-year in July, with the year-to-date total down 15% on 2011 at 22,907 units. For the first time since last February and only the second time since April 2011, the Opel Astra takes the lead of the Croatian models ranking in July with 130 sales and 4.8% share, and this is enough to shoot the Astra up to pole position in the 2012 year-to-date ranking with 909 units and 4%.

Peugeot 208

In second place and hitting its highest ranking in the world (equal with France), the Peugeot 208 sales 100 round units in Croatia for an excellent 3.7% market share, up a massive 16 spots on June. The Kia Cee’d also excels, up 11 spots to #3 with 91 sales and 3.4%, followed by the VW Polo (-2), Hyundai i30 (+4), VW Golf (-1) and Renault Megane (+5). Other great performers this month include the Skoda Citigo up 4 ranks to #13 (its best ranking in the world), the Hyundai ix35 up to #16 and the Audi A4 up to #17.

Previous month: Croatia June 2012: VW Up! takes control!

One year ago: Croatia July 2011: A first, the Hyundai i30 in pole position!

Full July 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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VW Up!

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Croatian car sales are down a worrying 27% year-on-year in June to 3,365 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 20,201 units, down 13% on 2011. Massive surprise atop the models ranking in June: for its 4th month of sales in the country and after ranking #9 last month with 99 sales and 2.9% share, the VW Up! grabs the pole position with an astounding 250 sales and 7.4%, by far the highest market share it has reached so far anywhere in the world, but also the strongest market share for any model in Croatia since February 2011! This is partly due to a large order by retail car companies though.

In second place the VW Polo improves on an already strong month of May to 6.2% share thanks to 210 sales and now leads the ranking year-to-date with 792 units and 3.9% share. Excellent month also for the Citroen C4 up to #3 with 155 sales and 4.6%, followed by the Opel Corsa at 4% and the VW Golf, Peugeot 308 and Ford Fiesta all at 125 units. Notice also the Skoda Citigo breaking into the Croatian Top 20 for the first time at #17 with 55 sales. Croatia is the first country outside of Czech Republic where the Citigo ranks within the Top 20.

Previous month: Croatia May 2012: VW Polo leads, Up! #9, Peugeot 208 #12

One year ago: Croatia June 2011: VW Polo dominates

Full June 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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VW Polo

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 20 best-selling models! Click on title to see – many thanks to Luka *

Croatian new car sales recuperate somewhat from a disastrous month of April (-37%) at -13% year-on-year in May at 3,377 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 16,836 units, down 9% on 2011. For the second time this year after January, the VW Polo is the best-selling model in the country with 156 sales and 4.6% share, it is #2 year-to-date at 582 units and 3.5% behind the Opel Astra, #2 this month with 145 sales and 4.3%.

VW Up!

The Ford Fiesta brilliantly rounds up the podium at 143 units and 4.2%, up 12 spots on April. Notice also the Chevrolet Aveo still extremely solid at #5 with 128 sales and 3.8% and the Fiat Punto up from outside the Top 20 to #6 at 125 units and 3.7%. But the big event this month in Croatia is the arrival of the VW Up! at #9 with 99 sales and 2.9% share and the Peugeot 208 at #12 with 74 units and 2.2%…

Previous month: Croatia April 2012: Hyundai i30 takes control in depressed market

One year ago: Croatia May 2011: Opel Corsa #1 for the first time in 7 years

Full May 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Hyundai i30

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Croatia is the latest European country after Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy to tread worrying waters, down 37% year-on-year in April to just 2,627 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 13,459 units, down 8% on 2011. And with smaller numbers come increased volatility in the models ranking: after the Skoda Fabia’s surprise leadership last month, the Hyundai i30 takes control of the Croatian market in April with 133 sales for a brilliant 5.1% share, probably the conjunction of the new model arriving in concessions and the old one being heavily discounted.

This is not the first time the i30 leads the Croatian ranking: it was already #1 in July and August 2011. The i30 is now #4 year-to-date behind the Opel Astra (down to #7 this month), the VW Golf (also #2 in April) and the VW Polo (up 2 spots to  #5 this month). Other great performers include the Opel Corsa up 10 ranks to equal-#2, the Chevrolet Aveo up 11 to #6 and the Ford Focus coming out of nowhere – or at least outside the Top 20 – directly into 10th position with 66 sales and 2.5% share.

Previous month: Croatia March 2012: Skoda Fabia surprise best-seller

One year ago: Croatia April 2011: Opel Astra and VW Polo back in command

Full April 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Skoda Fabia

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The Croatian car market is down slightly year-on-year in March at 3,779 registrations and -1%, bringing the year-to-date total to 10,832 units, up 3% on 2011. Coming out of nowhere (#21 in February), the Skoda Fabia surprises everyone by becoming the best-selling model in Croatia this month with 151 sales and 4% share. This is possibly the first time the Fabia ever leads the monthly Croatian ranking! The Opel Astra, #1 last month, is down to #6 but stays in pole position year-to-date with 437 units and 4%.

Two Frenchies complete the podium: the Renault Megane is up 5 spots on February to #2 with 126 sales and 3.3% and the Peugeot 308 is up one rank to #3 at 125 units. Volkswagen has another solid month and now places the Golf #2, Passat #3 and Polo #4 in the 2012 year-to-date ranking… 2011′s leader, the Skoda Octavia is weak in this start of 2012, down to #8 in March and #5 year-to-date.

Previous month: Croatia February 2012: Opel Astra leads, Kia Rio in Top 10

One year ago: Croatia March 2011: Skoda Octavia #1 thanks to…police fleet!

Full March 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Opel Astra

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Croatia are up 6% year-on-year in February at 3,563 registrations, bringing the 2012 year-to-date total to 7,053 units, also up 6% on 2011. Equal #1 with the VW Polo last month, the Opel Astra holds the top spot all on its own this time with 178 sales and 5% share and logically takes the lead year-to-date as well at 332 units and 4.7%. 2011′s leader, the Skoda Octavia, is up 4 spots on January to #2 with 118 sales and 3.3% and is followed by the VW Golf also up 4 ranks to #3 and 3.2%.

Kia Rio. Picture by es.autoblog.com, all rights reserved.

The Peugeot 308 does better, up 5 spots to #4 at 110 units and 3.1% ahead of the VW Passat down 3 ranks to #5 but up to 2nd place year-to-date with 232 sales and 3.3%. Excellent month also for the Citroen C4 up 2 spots to #6, the Renault Megane up 6 ranks to #7 and the Kia Rio breaking into the Croatian Top 10 for the first time at #9 with 79 units and 2.2% share.

Previous month: Croatia January 2012: VW Polo and Opel Astra butt heads, Kia Rio up

One year ago: Croatia January-February 2011: Skoda Octavia new leader

Full February 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Opel Astra

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The Croatian car market is up 5% this month at 3,490 registrations, and the top of the model ranking is like a flashback to the year end 2010 ranking… The Opel Astra and VW Polo sell exactly the same amount in January: 154 units for an excellent 4.4% market share. The VW Polo hasn’t been #1 since June 2011 and for the Opel Astra we have to go back to April 2011… The VW Passat and Renault Clio round up the podium like last month, both with 124 sales and 3.6%.

Kia Rio

The Citroen C4 is up to #8 at 99 units and 2.8% share, and January enables us to discover a couple of newcomers in the Top 20: mostly all South Korean models… The Kia Rio and Hyundai ix35 are the best performing, both at #11 with 85 sales and 2.4% – damn there are a lot of models selling the same this month in Croatia! Notice also the Kia Sportage at #16, Dacia Duster at #17 and Hyundai i20 at #20.

Previous post: Croatia December 2011: Volkswagen monopolises the podium!

One year ago: Croatia January-February 2011: Skoda Octavia new leader

Flashback: Croatia Full Year 2010: VW Polo or Opel Astra #1?

Full January 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Skoda Octavia

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Car sales in Croatia are down 20% in December to 2,876 registrations, bringing the final 2011 total to 41,561 units, up 8% on 2010. In December, the Croatian models ranking looks like Germany with Volkswagen managing the incredible feat of placing 3 models onto the podium: the Golf is #1 for the first time ever in the country with 119 sales and 4.6% and is followed by the Polo at 4% and the Passat at 3.5%…

VW Golf

Over the full year 2011, the Skoda Octavia becomes the best-selling car in the country for the first time, breaking 6 consecutive years of Opel Astra domination and 7 consecutive years of Opel domination, the Corsa being #1 in 2004… It sells 1,864 units for a 4.5% market share, up 60% on last year. What seemed like a fluke at the start of the year with Octavia sales boosted by Croatian Police orders has actually translated into a year-long trend.

VW Polo

2011 was a turbulent year with no less than 7 models taking the lead in the monthly rankings: the Octavia did it 5 times, the Hyundai i30 twice and the Opel Astra, Corsa, VW Polo, Passat and Golf all did it once… The VW Polo manages to pass the Opel Astra this year by limiting its fall to 4% at 1,754 sales and 4.2% vs. 1,723 and 4.1% for the Astra, down 23%. Below, the Opel Corsa and VW Golf both drop one spot to #4 (-3%) and #5 (+4%) respectively. Boosted by excellent summer sales, the Hyundai i30 is up a massive 57% and 5 spots to #6 with 1,301 sales and 3.1%.

Hyundai i30

There are 4 newcomers in the 2011 Croatian Top 20: the VW Passat is by far the most succesful, landing directly at #8 with 1,241 sales and 3% share, followed by the Citroen C4 at #11 and 2.3%, the Citroen C3 at #18 and the Renault Fluence at #20.

Previous month: Croatia November 2011: VW Polo now #2 year-to-date

Previous year: Croatia Full Year 2010: VW Polo or Opel Corsa #1?

Full Year 2011 Top 20 and December 2011 Top 15 Ranking Tables below.

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