Czech Republic March 2020: Skoda Kamiq up to record #4 in market down -36.3% to lowest March in 11 years

The Skoda Kamiq advances to an all-time high 4th place in March.

After declaring a COVID-19-triggered state of emergency on March 12 and for the first time in the country’s modern history, on March 16 a nationwide quarantine was imposed in the Czech Republic, initially scheduled to last until March 23 but subsequently extended to April 1 then April 12. All retail outlets were closed and as such new car sales in the country freefall -36.3% year-on-year in March to 13.685 units, the smallest single monthly volume since February 2014 (12.770) and the weakest March result since 2009 (12.410). The year-to-date tally is now down -15.8% to 50.194.

Homegrown brand leader Skoda (-25%) resists markedly better than the market to keep its share at decade-high levels at 39.2%. On the other hand Volkswagen (-40.6%) is hit hard but reclaims the #2 spot off Hyundai (-23.8%) with Dacia (-55.5%) rounding out the Top 4 once again. Mercedes (-14.2%) is the best performer in the Top 10, with Kia (-23.9%) and Toyota (-26.9%) also resisting ok but Renault (-50.3%) is in dire straits. Further down, Tesla (+4850%), Lexus (+43.5%) and Ferrari (+42.9%) flare up while Audi (-22%) and Volvo (-27.2%) contain their loss and Nissan (-88.8%), Mazda (-68.9%), Ford (-63.2%), Subaru (-61.8%) and Opel (-61.6%) crash and burn.

Over in the models ranking, the Skoda Octavia (+2.2%) takes advantage of its new generation to swim upstream with a small gain, whereas the Skoda Fabia (-50.5%) falls apart but stays at #2. The Skoda Karoq (-25.7%) scores its 2nd ever podium finish at home after last June at #3 while the Skoda Kamiq is up two spots on February to lift its ranking record to #4. The Superb (+23.7%) in outstanding shape makes it 5 Skodas in the March Top 5, one short of the brand’s all time record of 6 in the Top 6 reached in May 2017, January 2019 and September 2019. The Hyundai i30 (-27.3%) is the best-selling foreigner again at #6, distancing the Skoda Scala (+19.5%) and Kodiaq (-14.9%).

Previous month: Czech Republic February 2020: Toyota (+34.1%), Hyundai (+33.7%) stand out in market down -7.8%

One year ago: Czech Republic March 2019: Skoda Scala lands directly at #10 in 7th straight market drop (-12.1%)

Full March 2020 Top 45 All-brands and Top 250 All-models below.