Czech Republic May 2020: Skoda Fabia interrupts Octavia reign in market down -44.4%

The Skoda Fabia is #1 at home in May. Picture sportovnivozy.cz

With most COVID-19 restrictions lifted by May 11, the Czech new car market  performs better in May at -44.4% to 13.385 than it did in April (-53.4%) but not by such a significant margin which is disappointing. The year-to-date volume now stands at 74.258 units, down -30.3% over the same period in 2019. Homegrown brand leader Skoda (-46.8%) fails to match the market rate and drops to 33.4% share vs. 37.8% so far in 2020, followed like last month and YTD by Hyundai (-29.6%), Volkswagen (-37.5%), Dacia (-48.3%) and Toyota (-25.4%). Mercedes (-19.2%) signs the best hold in the Top 10 but Renault (-68.8%), Peugeot (-61.3%) and Ford (-59.5%) struggle mightily. Ssangyong (+720%), Tesla (+122.2%), Alfa Romeo (+114.3%), Mini (+17.6%), Lexus (-9.5%), Mitsubishi (-11.6%) and Ferrari (-12.5%) stand out below.

Model-wise, the Skoda Fabia (-28.6%) takes advantage of a generation changeover by the Skoda Octavia (-55%) to sign its first monthly victory since last August but remains safely over 1.800 units and 2.5 percentage points of market share below its larger sibling in the year-to-date order. The Skoda Scala (+6.3%) is back up to #3 for the 6th time in the past 10 months, it is also the ranking it holds YTD. The Hyundai i30 (-17.1%) resists well to step up to #4, interrupting the flow of Skodas as the Kamiq and Karoq come just after. The Hyundai Tucson (-1.7%) is very strong at #7 and the Dacia Duster (-60.7%) slips back inside the Top 10 despite a ghastly year-on-year fall.

Previous month: Czech Republic April 2020: Skoda holds Top 5 again in market down -53.4%

One year ago: Czech Republic May 2019: Dacia (+16.6%) up to #2 for the first time, Skoda Scala #9 in 9th consecutive market drop (-6.4%)

Full May 2020 Top 45 All-brands and Top 260 All-models below.