skip to Main Content

Hungary March 2018: Suzuki Vitara up 90% in market up 30.9%

The Suzuki Vitara continues to dominate the Hungarian sales charts.

* See the Top 10 best-selling brands and Top 30 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Hungary are up a stunning 30.9% year-on-year in March to 12.748 units, lifting the Q1 volume up 29.8% to 31.609. Brand leader and local producer Suzuki frankly outpaces the market once again with a fantastic 54% uplift in March resulting in a 72% uplift in Q1. Ford (+27%) is back above Skoda (+35%) this month and YTD above Opel (+32%) while Toyota (+27%) overtakes Volkswagen (+18%) to land in 5th place YTD. Renault (+82%) posts the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10 while Hyundai makes a rare appearance in the Hungarian Top 10 brands. Model-wise, the Suzuki Vitara advances three times faster than the market at +90% to 11.5% share, cementing its YTD leadership at +68% and 9.5%. The Skoda Octavia (+51%), Ford Focus (+183%), Opel Astra (+123%) and Suzuki S-Cross (+61%) follow and all beat the market. Notice also the Hyundai i30 at #10.

For the first time Datahouse and local media outlet autonavigator.hu published details of sales by channel for the Top 10 best-selling models in the country as well as re-export rates. Widespread in Eastern European markets such as Bulgaria and Estonia where car prices are lower than in other parts of the European Union, re-exporting is the practice of purchasing a car as new in a low-price country then immediately export it to other markets in the EU where it is sold at a profit as a 0km used car. Re-exports affect 13% of all new cars sold in Hungary, with the biggest culprits being Jeep (60% re-export), Nissan (43%), Fiat (36%), Ford (28%) and Renault (25%). Therefore the Ford Kuga (#6), Nissan Qashqai (#7), VW Jetta (#9) and Renault Clio (#10) disappear from the Q1 2018 Top 10 when re-exports are deducted, instead the Toyota Auris (#7), C-HR (#8), Opel Corsa (#9) and Skoda Fabia (#10) make their appearance. By channel data also shows the Vitara remains tops with private buyers above the Suzuki S-Cross and Toyota Yaris while the Skoda Octavia is king of fleet (87% of its total sales).

Previous month: Hungary February 2018: Suzuki Vitara and S-Cross beat market up 24.5%

One year ago: Hungary March 2017: Suzuki Vitara, Ford Kuga up in SUV month

Full March 2018 Top 10 brands and models and Q1 2018 Top 30 models below.

This content is for Platinum members only.
Log In Register
Back To Top