Czech Republic July 2016: First year-on-year decline in almost 3 years

Renault gains 24% in July in a Czech market shockingly down 12.5%. 

* See the Top 10 best-selling brands and Top 240 All-models by clicking on the title *

It’s the shock that we did not expect: new car sales in the Czech Republic are actually down year-on-year for the first time since October 2013, putting an end to 32 consecutive month of year-on-year gains and not by just a fraction: by 12.5% to just 18.739. This brings the year-to-date total to 151.517 units, this time up 12.5% on the same period in 2015. So is it the end of the euphoric run the Czech market had got us used to? Not so fast: local analysts rather believe the culprit is the number of holidays in July this year (12) vs. last year (9), notably during the first week of the month when only Monday and Friday were working days. Market leader Skoda is hit full frontal with deliveries down 24% to 5.430 and 29% share vs. 32.4% so far this year. Reversely, Volkswagen is up 8% to 11.2% share above Hyundai (-21%) and Ford (-16%). The stars of the Top 10 are Mercedes (+43%), Renault (+24%) and Dacia (+14%). Year-to-date, the most dynamic brands are Honda (+60%), Mercedes (+50%), Suzuki (+48%), Jeep (+35%), Audi (+31%), Mazda (+31%) and Renault (+27%). Model-wise, despite its freefall Skoda resumes monopolising the Top 4 with the Octavia, Fabia, Rapid and Superb. The Dacia Sandero is up to #11, the Renault Clio up to #15, the Dacia Dokker up to #18 and the Fiat Tipo up to #46.

Previous month: Czech Republic June 2016: Fourth consecutive all-time record month

One year ago: Czech Republic July 2015: Skoda Fabia ends Octavia domination

Full July 2016 Top 10 brands and Top 240 All-models below.