Ukraine June 2018: Kia Sportage leads, Renault Duster new #1 YTD

The Renault Duster is now the best-selling vehicle in Ukraine so far in 2018.

* See the Top 50 All-brands and Top 255 All-models by clicking on the title *

The Ukrainian new car market is definitely starting to sputter this year whereas it hasn’t come back anywhere near its pre-Crimea crisis level. At 6.513, June sales (-5.4%) marks the second year-on-year decline in the past four months (after March) and the third in the past 8 (after November). The year-to-date volume remains frankly in positive for now at +7.1% and 39.492 units, the largest score halfway through the year since 2014 (57.692) but still far below the 104.238 units of H1 2013.

Ukraine monthly volumes January-June 2013-2018:

Toyota (+0.4%) remains atop the Ukrainian brands ranking for June but drastically slows its growth as it gains 20% over the First Half. Renault (-9%) is the only other carmaker above 10% share, while Skoda (-7%) and Kia (-10%) both overtake Volkswagen (+10%) and Peugeot (+88%) and Hyundai (+24%) brilliantly sign the largest year-on-year gains in the Top 15. Other great performers include Geely (+5000%!), Chery (+241%), Honda (+200%), Porsche (+61%), Great Wall (+53%), Lexus (+46%), Jaguar (+42%), Opel (+40%), Volvo (+35%), Subaru (+34%), Fiat (+27%), Audi (+18%) and Mazda (+18%).

Model-wise, it appears the stock of emissions-grounded, U.S. imported VW Golf and Audi A3 that dominated the Ukrainian sales charts for the past 6 months in a world first is drying off. The Audi A3, #2 overall from February to April and #1 in May is down to #27 in June (still up 3800% YoY) whereas the VW Golf, #1 from January to March, is down to #70 (-30%). As a result, the two German nameplates have started to slide down the YTD order, abandoning their dominating stance to more “realistic” nameplates. The Kia Sportage (-25%) is the best-selling vehicle in the country for June despite a steep year-on-year decline – it was #1 over the Full Year 2017 but only manages a #10 ranking so far in 2018. Up 33% to #2 this month thanks to the new generation, the Renault Duster snaps the #1 YTD spot (+26%). The VW Polo (+141%) rounds up the podium with an outstanding surge, with the Peugeot 301 (+303%), Ford Kuga (+141%) and VW Passat (+106%) also posting spectacular gains in the Top 15. The Kia Stonic (#36) and Skoda Karoq (#40) top all recent launches.

Previous month: Ukraine May 2018: U.S. imported Audi A3 takes control

One year ago: Ukraine July 2017: Kia Sportage cements domination in market up 32% YTD

Full June 2018 Top 50 All-brands and Top 255 All-models below.