Slovakia September 2018: Skoda (29.3%), Hyundai (10.7%) shine in market down 37%

The Skoda Octavia returns to the #1 spot in Slovakia.

* See the Top 35 All-brands and Top 10 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Slovakia fall back down by a painful 37% year-on-year in September to 4.519 units after rising 45.8% in August in a pre-WLTP rush. Year-to-date, the market is now up 6.1% to 75.721. The Top 4 best-selling brands significantly outpace the market. Overall leader Skoda (-14%) manages to lose a lot less ground than the market, resulting in a pumped up 29.3% share, over 10 percentage points above its YTD level of 19%. Hyundai (-6%), Opel (-5%) and Toyota (-3%) do even better, also snapping much higher market shares at 10.7% vs. 7.6%, 8.4% vs. 4.7% and 7.7% vs. 4.9% respectively. The rest of the Top 10 has a totally different outlook, with Volkswagen (-73%), Suzuki (-60%) and Kia (-51%) freefalling and Citroen (-38%), BMW (-33%) and Peugeot (-28%) also sinking.

Further down, Volvo (+21%) manages the very impressive feat of actually progressing year-on-year, the only carmaker doing so this month alongside Maserati (+100%), Alfa Romeo (+14%) and Jeep (+6%). Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (-27%) climbs back up two spot to reclaim the pole position it held back in 2017, distancing fellow stablemates the Fabia (-16%) and Rapid (-1%) which the Hyundai i30 (+6%) is the only Top 10 nameplate in positive at #4 ahead of the Hyundai Tucson (-5%), Kia Cee’d (-46%) and Skoda Karoq.

Previous month: Slovakia August 2018: Skoda Fabia and Rapid top market up 45.8%

One year ago: Slovakia September 2017: Skoda Octavia overtakes Fabia for YTD lead

Full September 2018 Top 35 All-brands and Top 10 models below.