Romania Passenger Car Sales : 2025 (Jan-July)

Registrations got off to a slow start here. For July they were up 25% but YTD they are down 16%. Local brand Dacia leads the way and then some. Its share is down slightly compared to 2024 but still in a commanding position. 

Toyota's market share of 9.4% is a record for the marque in Romania and Škoda's best since 2018. MG is up to 13th in only its second year in the country so quite an improvement. Chinese brands have yet to make much impact as yet. 

Sales by model for Dacia were the Duster (7,680), Logan (7,014), Sandero (4,373), Jogger (1,686), Spring (1,160 - pic below) and the just released Bigster (811 - pic above). Škoda's strongest was the Octavia (2,803) with Toyota's best selling model the Corolla (2,494).

Data source: DGPCI. Pictures: Dacia.

Czechia Car Sales : 2025 (Jan-Jun)

Registrations were down 0.06% in April but up 2.9% YTD. Steady as she goes then. 

Škoda shocked everyone taking top spot in its home market. OK, just kidding. Market share of 34.3% when there is no tariff protection is almost unheard of. 

I have records going back to 1993, when the Czech Rep and Slovakia went through the Velvet Divorce and it's been number all since then and no doubt well before that. It's also been top in Slovakia over the same period.

Škoda has secured 42,000 YTD, then after daylight comes Hyundai with 10,400 units. VW on 8,400 and Toyota a few behind are battling it out for third spot.

The top selling models were:

Škoda Octavia - 9,534

Škoda Kamiq - 5,810

Škoda Karoq - 5,629

Škoda Kodiaq - 5,457

Škoda Fabia - 5,165

Škoda Scala - 4,596

Hyundai i30 - 3,867

Škoda Superb - 3,432

Hyundai Tucson - 3,239

Kia Ceed - 3,193

(Picture below)

Toyota Corolla - 2,496

Dacia Duster - 2,178

VW Golf 2,021

MG ZS - 1,996

Škoda Elroq - 1,470

(Picture above)

For the 2024 article, simply click on the link below:

By brand. 

By model. 

Data source: SDA.

Photos: Škoda Czechia & Kia Chechia.

Slovakia Top 40 Models : 2023-24

This part of Europe is Škoda country. It's also a popular hunting ground for Korean brands as they also have plants in the region. Overall European brands are well represented but in no way dominant. 

The VW T-Cross (picture above) grew 115% in registrations and the Nissan Qashqai (picture below) was up 101%. The MG ZS was up 187%!

Data source: DGPCI. 

Romania Top 40 Models : 2023-24

Dacia is the home team here and it is more than obvious. The range of six vehicles they currently sell are all in the top eight. It was all six places last year but the electric Spring model let the side down. 

The Logan leads (top picutre) from the Duster (picture below, will need a dust soon too). Toyota also enjoys popularity here as does Suzuki. Ford has a plant here which gives that brand a measure of success too.  

Romania Passenger Car Sales : 2024

Total salles were the best they have been for five years. Registrations for December were up 12% and 4% for the year. Local brand Dacia (picture above) is well ahead of any other although it has lost some market share. 

Toyota reached its best ever percentage  of 8.5% as it consolidated the second spot while Renault bounced up in 2023 and back down this year. KG Mobility or SsangYong (Torres model below) was up to 14th with Jeep and Land Rover doing well. 

Data source: DGPCI. 

Slovakia Passenger Car Sales : 2024

The country that produces more cars per capita than any other. It had a 6% increase in registrations for the year with Škoda delivering one in five of them. Škoda is based in neighbouring Chechia but the local populous to the east clearly still relate to the brand.

Toyota and Kiai lost ground to the leader although VW made up a ground in passing Hyundai. Nissan, MG, Honda, Land Rover and Subaru had notable gains. The inexorable march of Chinese brands hasn't reached here yet. 

Data source: ZAP. 

Czechia Top 50 : 2023-24

 Škoda last year had just six of the top ten places. Now it has seven. They only have eight models in total and that's an electric SUV way down on 29th. More are coming though so Škoda may make a clean sweep of the top ten one day. Sadly they do computer generated cars in their photos (see above). 

Hyundai and Kia do well here and both manufacture in the region. The Kia Cee'd and the Proceed are combined in terms of numbers below in the chart as the latter is a sportier version of the C'eed. The ProCeed is shown below the chart. 

Data source: SDA.

Czechia Passenger Car Sales : 2024

Registrations were up 18% in December and up 5% for the full year. So as with many other markets, a stronger finish to the year. Škoda is the home town hero and it shows. One in three cars in an open market is an unusually high percentage. Toyota has just passed VW and has Hyundai in its sights. So the leadership won't be changing but below brands feeding over the crumbs will. 

There are a large number of 'Other' brands which are given but the list would be twice as long as it is now so trust me when I say it's better not to include them. None of them are large in sales. Some of the larger and better known ones are Chevrolet (36), Maserati (29), Alpine (24), Rolls Royce (22), BYD (22), Aston Martin and Cadillac (17).

The list includes camper vans too so some names may sound strange to those not familiar with them. I'd like to extract them but it would be a lot of work. Chinese brands are entering but not making a huge splash as yet. 

Data source: SDA. 

Moldova Sales : 2023

I just noticed I haven't put out anything for Moldova since 2021. So while I don't get monthly data, I have annual registrations for 2023 so here it is. A 16% increase is the third consecutive gain and the best since 2008. 

Dacia took the lead here in 2010 from Lada and held that post until 2021 when Toyota took over. It's held that for three years with Škoda and Dacia ready to pounce if the chance comes their way. 

Ukraine Passenger Car Sales : 2024 (Jan-Sep)

 Even in war torn countries, business still goes on and people have to buy cars. Sales for September were up 1% and for the YTD +21%. Toyota leads comfortably although with some lost market share. VW and Škoda did even worse. Renault, BMW and especially Nissan did well though. 

Getting data from Ukraine isn't easy and as best as I can tell an accurate list. What is here does give us a snapshot of passenger car registrations in the country. 

Picture sources: Toyota & Renault Ukraine.

Poland Passenger Car Sales : 2023

Registrations were up 13% for the year. Toyota's share is the highest it has ever been and easily so. Škoda surrendered its lead back in 2020 and the gap has quickly become a substantial one. Audi has also achieved its best share ever as it pushes its volume in Europe. 

Slovakia Top 50 Passenger Car Models : 2023

The top nine is the Škoda - Hyundai/Kia show. The Kia Cee'd includes the Proceed wagon variant and as it's made here not surprising it does well. Mind you, many cars are made here. In fact, they make more cars per capita than any other country in the world. 

Slovakia Passenger Car Sales : 2023

Registrations were +12% for the year. Škoda is a popular brand in many European countries and I suppose the company based in what was once the same country helps. The 'Diff' column shows market share change.   

Since 2013, Toyota has steadily increased its share of the Slovak market each year. It is well short of the leader but the relentlessness is impressive. Lexus has followed the same pattern but with a much lower volume of course. Land Rover had its lowest penetration since 2010. I'm not sure why as they now have a successful plant here. 

Czech Top 50 Sales By Model : 2023

I wonder which brand is most popular here? I'm guessing Škoda. The Octavia is on steroids and with Škoda having the top six models, it has to be Škoda is king here. All other brands seem to be somewhat of a sideshow in comparison.

Hyundai got 7th and 8th and the Kona (above) increased 30%. The Škoda Enyaq (coupe below) has not had the impact others within the brand have. Electric cars haven't made much headway so far. Ssangyong is surprisingly popular in the Republic, with the Korando as high as 17th. 

Data source: SDA.

Czech Rep Passenger Car Sales : 2023

Registrations were up 4% in December and 15% for the year. Škoda's market share of 35% may look exceptional but that is on par with recent history. Competing brands accept double digit share just isn't going to happen. The 'Diff' column below shows market share change

Premium brands did well, improving their rankings in the process. Tesla is making waves in Europe but not so much here, not yet anyway. Chinese brands aren't doing much either so electric cars are still not that common. 

Data source: SDA.

Romania Passenger Car Sales : 2023 (Jan-Nov)

Dacia is an ancient tribal kingdom based around modern day Romania. Today we have a car brand of that name, owned by Renault that is based in Romania. Unsurprisingly, the brand does very well here, commanding 32% of the market. Registrations were up 3% for the year. The 'Diff' column shows market share change. 

The supplier of the data (APIA) has gone all coy regarding sharing what you see below so there won't be a full year edition. Eleven months gives a reasonable picture. 

Poland Top 50 Passenger Car Models : 2023 (Jan-Mar)

If you live in Poland and drive a Yaris or Yaris Cross, then you're not alone. In fact, you will be waving at so many passing cars, acknowledging the form of transport you share in common. Until you got tired of it or develop RSI. I jest of course.

Toyota had the top three models with the Corolla making up the trifecta. Škoda had several models that proved popular too. 

Source: Various.