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In October, the AAA AUTO network sold the most cars in its history despite the lack of used cars on the market
"Thanks to a very robust car buying system, including the involvement of our new Driverama company, we have been able to not only maintain the same offer but also expand it at a time when the number of cars on the used car market is declining. As a result, we are able to meet the ever-increasing demand, which is the highest in our nearly 30-year history. For six months now, we have been selling an average of 8,600 cars per month across all brands in the Group. In my more than two decades at AAA AUTO, I cannot remember such a wave of interest in used cars across Central Europe," said Karolína Topolová, CEO and Chairman of the Board of AURES Holdings, the operator of the international network of AAA AUTO car dealerships.
In ten months this year, the AAA AUTO network has already sold 3,500 more cars than in the whole of 2020. Monthly sales records are being achieved not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Poland and Slovakia. This all despite the fact that the beginning of this year was affected by the longest lockdown ever, which lasted from last Christmas until 10th May in the Czech Republic and this was similar in Slovakia. AAA AUTO car centres were closed for almost three and a half months.
"Although the closure of stores due to the coronavirus pandemic brought growth in online trading of used cars, which helped us to cope with the crisis period, the pandemic also created a huge hunger for second-hand cars on the market. The main reasons for this include a reduction in the production of new cars, the increased popularity of individual transport as a protection against the risk of contagion, and a reduction in the volume of used car imports from abroad. This has been compounded in recent months by the chip crisis, which has led to further shortfalls in new car production, as well as fears about the rapid rise of electromobility," explained Karolína Topolová.
Even this autumn, Škoda models are among the most sought-after cars, accounting for 28% of the total number of cars sold in the Czech AAA AUTO network. The Škoda Octavia has long held the top spot in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, while the Opel Astra leads the way in Poland. However, there has been a significant change in fuel preference, especially among Czech customers. "Although the long-term trend of fuel preference was in favour of petrol engines, the interest in diesel engines increased significantly in autumn. In the Czech Republic, as many diesel cars are sold as petrol ones. This trend of change in the perception of the Czech customer can be attributed mainly to the radical increase in fuel prices, where the advantage is clearly on the side of diesels. To some extent, it is also influenced by the pressure to eradicate non-eco-friendly engines and the fear of their shortage. According to our analyses, the Czech market was short of five thousand of these used cars in October alone, compared to last year," Topolová pointed out. AAA AUTO's sales of diesel-powered cars rose by 38% in September and October compared to last year in the Czech Republic, 42% in Slovakia and even 80% in Poland. Cars with comfort features are also on the rise. 28% of Czech customers prefer cars with automatic transmission, while over 17% prefer four-wheel drive.
The best-selling used cars in the AAA AUTO network in October 2021:
|
|
Czech Republic |
Slovakia |
Poland |
|
1. |
Škoda Octavia |
Škoda Octavia |
Opel Astra |
|
2. |
Škoda Fabia |
Škoda Fabia |
Škoda Fabia |
|
3. |
VW Passat |
VW Passat |
Ford Focus |
|
4. |
Škoda Superb |
Škoda Superb |
Škoda Octavia |
|
5. |
VW Golf |
Kia Ceed |
Renault Megane |
