Skoda registers highest imports in January

Skoda, represented by Porsche Romania, was the best selling imported car brand in January, after it topped Renault sales (last year’s top importer) by over 32,000 units. In fact, in January 2007, the Czech brand also posted higher sales than the French brand, but by yearend Renault had sold 9,000 more units. Skoda sold 1,963 vehicles in January, up by over 40% compared with the same time last year, while Renault sold 1,849 vehicles, a 55% increase. Sales of the top ten imported brands went up by 34.3% in the first month of the year, above last year’s overall market increase of 23.4%, but below the growth rate of imports by almost 50% in 2007. The market has remained largely unaffected by the depreciation of the RON and by the announcement of the new pollution tax.