Czech Republic Full Year 2014: Skoda Rapid #2 in record market

Skoda Rapid Spaceback

May 2020 update: Now with Top 47 All-brands and Top 325 All-models.

The Czech new car market hits a new all-time high in 2014 with sales up a magnificent 17% year-on-year to 192,314 registrations, almost 20,000 units above the previous record of 174,009 established in 2012. 6 out of 12 months broke all time records this year, including the last 4 months of the year, so the market is on a great run indeed and 2015 could well be the very first year Czech car buyers purchase 200,000 new vehicles for the first time. For the first time a phenomenon rife in all of Eastern Europe due to lower prices than in other parts of the European Union, the re-export or cars purchased as new – has been quantified for the Czech Republic by Madea Research which announced that 23,471 vehicles, or 12% of the 2014 market, were registered for less than 3 months then left the country. The biggest culprit is the VAG Group with an estimated 20% of Volkswagen sales in the country actually being re-exported.

Dacia is the #4 manufacturer in the Czech Republic if re-exports are deducted.

In this context, market leaders Skoda (30.2% share) and Hyundai (9.8%) evolve like the market and keep their market shares intact, Volkswagen overperforms at +22% in third place as does Ford at #4 (+33%) but the most improved awards go to Dacia up 64% to #5 and even #4 with re-exports deducted and Opel up 55% to #7. Seat breaks into the Top 10 for the first time thanks to sales up 41% to 6,163 units but falls to a much less impressive #18 without re-exports.

The VW Golf is the best-selling foreigner in the Czech Republic for the first time.

The Skoda Octavia lodges a 6th consecutive year in the Czech pole position but sees its market share slide again slightly to 10.7% and 20,539 units. The Skoda Rapid is up one spot to pass the Fabia to 2nd place overall thanks to sales up 48% with the arrival of the Spaceback variant to 12,393 deliveries and 6.4%. The Skoda Fabia will need to forget 2014 fast: handicapped by the changeover to its new generation and cannibalised by the Rapid, it drops 11% to the nameplate’s lowest ever local annual share to 4.6%. Skoda however monopolises the podium for the 4th time in the last 5 years.

BMW X5

Thanks to sales up a formidable 35% on 2013, the VW Golf passes the Nošovice-produced Hyundai i30 to claim the title of best-selling foreigner in the Czech Republic for the first time ever at #4, with the Ford Fiesta (+66%) and Skoda Yeti (+64%) also performing stunningly in the Top 10. Further down, notice the Seat Leon up 92% to #13, the Dacia Duster up 77% to #14, Renault Clio up 50% to #27, Opel Corsa up 68% to #29 and the BMW X5 increasing its sales nearly fourfold on 2013 to break into the Top 50 at #45.

Previous month: Czech Republic November 2014: New gen brings Skoda Fabia back to #3

One year ago: Czech Republic Full Year 2013: Skoda Octavia #1, Rapid on podium

Two years ago: Czech Republic Full Year 2012: Hyundai i30 on podium for the first time

Full Year 2014 Top 47 All-brands and Top 325 All-models vs. Full Year 2013 figures below.

Full December 2014 Top 50 models below.