World May 2013 Roundup: Europeans buy more local

June 24, 2013
Matt Gasnier

Skoda Octavia. Skoda managed to place all its 7 models inside the Czech Top 10 this month…

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Finally the much anticipated Worldwide May 2013 Roundup is here! First a bit of (great) news: thanks to Irina at AKAB we welcome a new country to BSCB’s monthly models sales charts updates: Kazakhstan, a market up 72% so far in 2013 after gaining…114% in 2012! Secondly, a (new) bit of overview of the largest markets with a very contrasted picture this month: China (+9%), the USA (+8%) and Brazil (+10%) are all up significantly while Japan (-9%), Germany (-10%) and Russia (-12%) all have full brakes on.

If last month the Toyota RAV4 was under the spotlight, in May we witness an interesting trend across a few European countries: whether it is a coincidence or not is something that will become clearer as the year goes by, but it would appear that European consumers have been very patriotic this month. This is something that traditionally happens when times get tough, a natural and sometime ‘subliminal’ reaction to purchase local in a view to support the homegrown industry, which nowadays often isn’t actually the case: more and more ‘local’ models are actually produced abroad…

Fiat Panda. For the first time in 16 years, the Italian Top 5 is foreign model-free…

In Italy, the Top 5 best-selling models are 100% Italian for the first time in 16 years: the Fiat Panda leads, followed by the Fiat Punto, Fiat 500, Lancia Ypsilon and Fiat 500L. In Czech Republic, Skoda manages to place its entire range (7 models!) inside the Top 10 for the first time in history: the Octavia is on top with 8.3% market share, ahead of the Fabia at #2 and 7.9%, the Rapid at #3 and hitting its best market share so far at 4.7%, the Superb at #5, Citigo at #8, Yeti at #9 and Roomster at #10.

Dacia Logan. The Romanian podium is 100% Dacia for the first time ever.

In Romania, we have the same phenomenon with Dacia: for what could well be the first time in the history of the brand, Dacia monopolises the podium at home, placing the Logan at #1 with 14.4% share, the Duster #2 at 6.5% and the Sandero at #3 with 2.9%, the nameplate’s highest position in 4 years. With the Dokker at a record 5th place and 2.7% share, Dacia also places 4 models in the Top 5 for only the second time ever after last January…

ZAZ Vida. ZAZ places 3 models in the Ukrainian Top 5 this month…

Lastly in Ukraine, local carmaker ZAZ places 3 models in the Top 5: the Sens at #1, Vida at #4 and Lanos at #5. While this may have happened in the past, it is the first time ZAZ manages this feat since the creation of BestSellingCarsBlog in 2010… To be noted, there are also only 11 foreign models in the German Top 50 this month and one in the French Top 10. So there is clearly a trend, the next few months will tell us whether this was just a coincidence or the start of a longer-term shift towards local carmakers as European new car sales continue to contract…

In India, the Maruti Swift DZire (sedan) leads the ranking for the first time ever and becomes only the 5th vehicle to ever rank #1 in India in over 60 years! The Maruti Alto had been #1 in India each and every month since July 2004 except April 2012 when the Maruti Swift took the lead (that’s 105 of the last 106 months!), the Maruti 800 led the Indian market from 1985 to 2004 and the Hindustan Ambassador did so from around 1950 until 1984 (Note 1950-2004 data is not official, if you have more detail please get in touch).

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Here is the full last 12 months’ worth of World roundups:

World April 2013 Roundup: Toyota RAV4 means business

World March 2013 Roundup: Don’t take this the wrong way, but…

World February 2013 Roundup: Nissan Qashqai pumps up the jam

World January 2013 Roundup: Low-cost range brings Renault back

World Full Year 2012 Roundup: Last Year’s Top 5 highlights

World December 2012 Roundup: Has the Chinese invasion started?

World November 2012 Roundup: When Hyundai cracked Brazil

World October 2012 Roundup: China, Japan and Austria in focus

World September 2012 Roundup: Ford Focus shines in China