Croatia June 2018: VW up 71%, Polo and Captur lead in market up 25%

First Croatian pole position for this generation of VW Polo.

* See the Top 35 All-brands and Top 20 models by clicking on the title *

According to data released by our local partner Promocija Plus, the Croatian new car market surges 25% year-on-year in June to 8.586 units, lifting the year-to-date volume up 18.9% to 38.229. Although these figures are already formidable, the next few months will tell us whether Croatia will also benefit from the added “World Cup effect” that often comes along in nations with a surprisingly good performance at the World Cup. France, for example, saw its entire economy boosted by the added morale of its 1998 World Cup win, a year when French new car sales leaped by a crisp 14%. Croatia is qualified for the Final as we write these lines and our contacts inside the country have already confirmed the level of euphoria within the population has never been seen before there. Will this translate into even more dynamic 2018 car sales figures? We’ll know by the end of the next quarter.

The Renault Captur leaps up to #2 overall in Croatia in June.

For now, Volkswagen maintains its iron grip on the Croatian brands ranking, even scoring one of the largest year-on-year gains in market at +74% to hit 18.1% share, well above its YTD level of 14.2%. The next 4 carmakers all underperform: Renault (+0.2%) is stable, Opel (+17%) grows slower than the market but Skoda (-17%) freefalls. Fiat (+84%) and Peugeot (+83%) also stun, while further down Mitsubishi (+2550%), Smart (+860%), Porsche (+300%), Land Rover (+225%), Subaru (+200%), BMW (+170%), Mini (+115%) and Volvo (+89%) all impress. Model-wise, the VW Polo is propelled up 127% by the new generation, taking the lead for the first time since December 2016. The Renault Captur (+61%) brilliantly snaps the 2nd place, its highest ever ranking in Croatia also hit in October 2014. The Fiat 500 (+908%!), Opel Insignia (+404%), VW Tiguan (+377%), VW Golf (+44%) and Peugeot 208 (+43%) also shine while the VW T-Roc (#13) now ranks inside the 2018 Top 20 and the Ford C-Max snaps its first Top 20 finish since December 2014 at #11.

Previous month: Croatia May 2018: Renault Clio snaps YTD lead

Previous year: Croatia Full Year 2017: Skoda Octavia #1 for third time, market up 15.1%

Full June 2018 Top 35 All-brands and Top 20 models below.