The Central/Eastern European market for new cars (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) fell for the second successive quarter – by 8.01% – in fourth quarter 2004 to 246,578 units.
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However, according to Jato Dynamics, for full year 2004, the market was up 0.33% from 2003 at 978,582 units, and car makers will need to ensure that they focus their efforts carefully, as the region is characterised by a wide variation in performance between different markets.
New car sales in Poland fell considerably in fourth quarter 2004, down 36.99% on the same period in 2003, with the total for the year 6.61% down on 2003.
Jato said that the Polish economy remains uncertain – the country’s sheer size means that it is difficult for economic developments to be implemented, but its new car market has also been badly affected by imports of western European used cars which, following EU accession, are no longer subject to prohibitive taxation.
Slovakia and Czech Republic saw falls of 11.74% and 2.57% respectively in Q4, finishing the year down 6.74% and 6.61%.
Slovenia and Estonia suffered slowing car markets in Q4 (down 6.78% and 1.84% on Q4 2004), but over the full year they were 11.07% and 5.35% ahead of 2003.
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania all saw an expansion of the market in Q4 and over the full year. The growth was most significant in Romania, up 45.47% in Q4 and up 35.93% for the year, slightly greater than the growth seen in Latvia.
Brands
Skoda was the leading brand in Central/Eastern Europe, taking a 15.69% share of the market in Q4 2004. Dacia climbed from fifth place in Q3 to second in Q4 thanks to plentiful sales of the new Logan model, and the brand’s Q4 2004 sales were almost double those of the same period in 2003. Renault, Opel and Volkswagen (up 18.02% in Q4 and up 8.29% for the year) completed the top five for the quarter.
For the full year, Skoda led from Renault, Opel, Fiat and Volkswagen. Ford was up 16.8% for the year.
Daewoo/Chevrolet combined volumes were up 3.1% in Q4 and up 22.4% for the year and Hyundai was up 43.3% in Q4 and up 39.4% for the year. Honda was up 25.1% in Q4 and up 32.9% for the year. Audi up was 21.0% in Q4 and up 13.1% for the year.
Kia was up 91.2% in Q4 and up 37.3% for the year, Mazda was up 3.2% in Q4 and up 11.5% for the year, BMW was up 50.8% in Q4 and up 40.5% for the year and Subaru was up 75.7% in Q4 and up 45.2% for the year.
Models
The Skoda Fabia remained the top selling car in the region, but the Dacia Logan achieved second place in Q4 2004, ahead of the Skoda Octavia, Opel Astra and Chevrolet/Daewoo Matiz. For the full year, the Skoda Fabia led its Octavia sibling, Fiat Panda, Dacia Solenza and Peugeot 206.
