Romania September 2018: Ecosport, Tucson survive market down 73%

The Ford Ecosport is up to a record 6th place in Romania this month.

* See the Top 35 All-brands and Top 170 All-models by clicking on the title *

What goes around comes around: Romania was the EU market that was the most spectacularly boosted by pre-WLTP stock clearances in August at +138%, and is then logically obliterated in September at -73.4% year-on-year to just 2.771 units, compared to 28.546 last month. The year-to-date tally is in no danger however at +35.3% to 106.595. Homegrown leader Dacia (-80%) falls even faster than the market to 23.9% she vs. 27.5% so far this year, while Ford (-47%) leaps up four spots on last month to #2 with 13.3% share vs. 7% in 2018, ahead of Skoda (-65%) at 12.3% vs. 8.2% while Hyundai (-20%) posts the smallest decline in the Top 13 to jump 7 ranks to #4 and 10.3% share vs. just 4% year-to-date. Suzuki (-95%), Audi (-93%), Opel (-93%), Fiat (-90%), Renault (-89%), Nissan (-84%), Land Rover (-82%) and Volkswagen (-81%) are hit the hardest but two carmakers do manage a positive result this month: Smart (+125%) and Volvo (+18%).

Model-wise, the Dacia Logan (-84%) implodes to 11% but extends its streak of 169 consecutive months at #1, ahead of the Dacia Duster (-70%), Skoda Octavia (-55%) and Dacia Sandero (-79%), almost replicating the YTD Top 4, however the Renault Clio (-92%) falls flat to #28 vs. #5 YTD. The Hyundai Tucson soars 36% year-on-year and 45 spots on August to #5 but the best performer in the Top 10 is the locally produced Ford Ecosport up 467% YoY and 12 ranks on last month to #6. Both the Tucson and Ecosport break new ranking records in Romania. Other rare gainers in the Top 50 include the Toyota C-HR (+41%) at #12, Peugeot 3008 (+11%) at #29 and Volvo XC90 (+114%) at #44. The Hyundai Kona (#39) tops all recent launches (<12 months) above the Volvo XC40 (#55), Skoda Karoq (#56) and VW T-Roc (#60).

Previous month: Romania August 2018: Dacia Logan celebrates 14 years at #1, WLTP lifts market up 138%

One year ago: Romania September 2017: Dacia up 47% in market up 11.4%

Full September 2018 Top 35 All-brands and Top 170 All-models below.