Czech Republic June 2012: Hyundai i30 shines, Skoda Rapid lands

Hyundai i30

* See the Top 150 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Czech Republic are holding up extremely well: +12% year-on-year in June to 18,140 registrations and +7% year-to-date at 94,233 units. The Czech models ranking is potentially on the eve of a once-in-a-decade change of guard, similar to when the Skoda Fabia relinquished the Czech pole position to the Octavia in 2009 after 9 years of reign. The all-new Skoda Rapid has just been unveiled and had its very first 30 units registered in June (#100). Slotted between the Fabia and Octavia in size and price it is destined to tremendous success here and I predict it will at least jump on the podium in the next few months, and could even have a go at the top spot…

Skoda Rapid

In June, below the Octavia (13.2% share) and Fabia (7.7%), the Hyundai i30 new generation excels once again at #3, its third time on the Czech podium in the last 4 months. With 706 sales and 3.9% it lodges the highest market share of any foreign model in the last 12 months (albeit produced locally). The latest best scores for imported models were delivered by the Ford Focus at 4.5% in March and June 2011 and the Renault Thalia at 4.4% in February 2011, but the recent record is still in the hands of the… Hyundai i30 at 6.1% in October 2010.

Even though this month it ‘only’ has 5 models in the Top 8, Skoda passes an important milestone: in the 2012 year-to-date ranking it manages to place 5 models in the Top 6 for the very first time in the history of the brand in a cumulative ranking! Below the Octavia and Fabia, the Superb ranks #4, the Yeti #5 and the Roomster #6 thanks to an excellent 4th place this month.

Hyundai ix35

The Hyundai ix35 also breaks a record and reaches its highest ever ranking in Czech Republic at #7 with 372 sales and 2.1%, beating the #9 rank it reached last December. Other great performers this month include the Seat Ibiza up 8 spots to #9, the Skoda Citigo reaching its best ranking so far at #14, the Opel Astra up 7 ranks to #19, the Mercedes C-Class up a massive 93 to #32, the Honda Civic up 11 to #42, the Hyundai i40 up 56 to #44, the BMW 3 Series up 52 to #47 and the Audi Q3 up 23 to #53.

Previous month: Czech Republic June 2012: Skoda Superb and VW Tiguan impress

One year ago: Czech Republic June 2011: 5 Skodas in Top 8

Full June 2012 Top 150 Ranking Table below.