A total of 2,173 new cars were sold in Croatia in May 2020, which is 76% fewer than in May 2019 when 9,149 vehicles were sold, according to data from the Promocija Plus market research agency.

In the first five months of this year 13,286 new vehicles were sold, a decrease of 55.6% compared with the same period of last year. In the first five months of 2020 the best-selling car brand was Volkswagen, with 2,191 vehicles sold and a 16.5% share in total sales.

It was followed by Skoda with 1,959 vehicles sold and a share of 14.7%, Renault with 912 vehicles sold and a share of 6.8%, Dacia with 792 vehicles sold and a share of 5.9%, and Kia with 701 vehicles sold and a share of 5.2%.

Also sold during this period were 402 BMWs, 388 Audis, 324 Mercedeses, 59 Porsches, 48 Land Rovers, 29 Jaguars and 12 Teslas.

The best-selling car model in May this year was the Skoda Octavia, which was selected by 121 buyers. It was followed by the Kia Stonic (97 units sold) and the Dacia Sandero (70).

The Skoda Octavia was also the most popular model in the first five months of the year, with 982 units sold, ahead of the VW Golf and the VW T-Cross which were each chosen by 415 buyers.

The data also shows that Croatians prefer petrol-fuelled cars to those using diesel. In the period between January and May 7,768 buyers picked petrol-driven cars, which is a share of 58% in total sales, while 4,545 opted for those fuelled by diesel (34.2%). 85% chose an electric vehicle (0.6%) and 791 a hybrid (6%).