Romania May 2021: Skoda (+77.9%), Renault (+51.5%) outpace market up just 14.9%

Skoda Octavia sales are up 169.5% year-on-year in May.

The Romanian new car market is up only 14.9% year-on-year in May to 8.221 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -9.2% to 35.836. Note May 2020 was down -45% on the year prior and as a result May 2021 volumes are down -36.8% on pre-pandemic May 2019 figures. Dacia (-11.6%) goes against the grain with a double-digit fall but its market share, at 23%, remains well above that of year-to-date at 20.4%. The next three brands vastly outperform the market: Skoda (+77.9%), Renault (+51.5%) and Ford (+35.3%) all surge ahead. Below, Toyota (+13.2%) and Volkswagen (+17.7%) evolve around the market growth rate while Mercedes (+39.5%) and Suzuki (+20.7%) are more dynamic and Hyundai (-45.6%) implodes. Further down, Jeep (+325%), Audi (+238.3%) and Seat (+233.3%) stand out with surreal year-on-year gains.

Over in the models ranking, the Top 5 is unchanged on last month but features wildly different year-on-year evolutions. The Dacia Logan (-10.6%) confirms it is back on top after a freak third place in March, the first time in the nameplate’s 17 year history that it didn’t rank #1 at home. The Dacia Duster (+32.1%) is in great shape once again at 8.3% share vs. 6.2% so far this year whereas the Dacia Sandero (-32.5%) implodes despite a new generation. The Renault Clio (+77.1%) stuns while the next three models all more than double their sales year-on-year. The Skoda Octavia (+169.5%) is the most dynamic at #5, the Renault Captur (+159.8%) is up 32 spots on April to #6 and the Ford Puma (+118%) is up one to #7. Notice also the Peugeot 2008 (+511.1%), Citroen C3 (+191.5%), Skoda Scala (+129%), Skoda Fabia (+115.4%) and Toyota RAV4 (+110.9%) making waves further down.

Previous month: Romania April 2021: Dacia Logan reclaims top spot in market up 58.8%

One year ago: Romania May 2020: Hyundai (+5.5%) defies market down -45%, Ford Puma in Top 20

Full May 2021 Top 45 All-brands and Top 225 All-models below.