Ukraine May 2020: Kia (+50.8%), Mercedes (+70.9%), BMW (+23.3%) help thin market loss to -15.1%

Kia Sportage sales are up 83.6% year-on-year in May.

New car sales in Ukraine are recovering: from -46.9% in April to just -15.1% in May at 5.895 units, bringing the year-to-date tally down -7.3% to 29.838. This is a much better hold than the rest of Europe where Moldova (-27.7%) and Cyprus (-29.5%) are the best performers. Toyota (-17.1%) reclaims the brands top spot off Renault (-12%) at 17.4% share vs. 14.4% while Kia (+50.8%) shoots up to 11.4% share this month vs. 8.1% so far in 2020. Mercedes (+70.9%) and BMW (+23.7%) also score outstanding gains in the remainder of the Top 10 where Peugeot (-1%), Mazda (-2.8%) and Skoda (-9.4%) are also solid. Further down, Audi (+91.1%), Opel (+71.1%), Jaguar (+63.2%), Porsche (+41.7%), Land Rover (+25%), Haval (+8.3%) and Ford (+4.3%) also stand out.

Model-wise, the Kia Sportage (+83.6%) lurches back into the pole position it held over the Full Year 2019 and advances to #2 YTD above the Toyota RAV4 (-6%), itself up to #2 this month. However the Renault Duster (+3.7%), down two spots to #3 in May, retains the YTD lead for now. The Toyota Prado (+10.9%) is up 5 spots to ensure the May Top 4 is 100% composed of SUVs, with the Renault Logan (-38%), Sandero (-15.1%) and Skoda Octavia (-22.2%) in tow. The Mercedes GLE (+182.6%) is by far the biggest gainer in the Top 10, with the Ford Kuga (+57.7%) also very impressive while the Skoda Kodiaq (+169.8%) ends the month just outside at #11. The Mercedes GLS (+195.8%) brilliantly breaks into the Top 20 at #17 while the Mazda CX-30 tops all recent launches (<12 months) at #44.

Previous month: Ukraine April 2020: Renault up to 21% share, Mercedes (+15.7%), BMW (-11.5%) solid in market down -46.9%

One year ago: Ukraine May 2019: Toyota RAV4 eclipses Renault Duster, Kia Sportage to #1

Full May 2020 Top 50 All-brands and Top 220 All-models below.