NEW car sales in central and eastern Europe fell slightly over the past year, but underlying growth is apparent for the third quarter of 2005. The market was down 0.8% compared to the same time in 2004, but third-quarter (Q3) sales this year rose 6%.

The lower-medium and SUV segments continue to grow strongly, according to new analysis from JATO Dyamics.

A slump in new car sales in the region’s largest market, Poland, acted as a brake on total regional sales. Polish sales in Q3 fell by 12.9%, down 27.9% year-to-date (YTD).

Romania’s spectacular growth in new car sales slowed slightly in Q3, although sales were still 38.9% higher than in Q3 of 2004. YTD sales rose by 60% compared with 2004, making it the second largest market in the region.

Registrations in Hungary rose by 6% in Q3, although YTD registrations were down by 4%. Hungary remains the third largest market in the region. Skoda remains the leading brand in the region and the Fabia is the best-selling model.

Sales of utility and city cars fell 27.6% in Q3 and 37% YTD. Small car sales rose by 2.9% for Q3 but the segment share of the market YTD fell from 41% to 37.5%.

Lower-medium car sales rose by 13.9% in Q3, putting the segment 20.5% ahead of 2004 YTD. Premium lower-medium sales rose 16.4% during Q3, while upper-medium sales rose 14.2% during the same period. Sales of premium upper-medium models fell by 7% in Q3 and the segment was down 10.6% for the first nine months of the year. Executive segment sales rose by 10.9% in Q3, and luxury sales rose 15%.

The mini-MPV segment achieved a 6.9% rise in Q3 but YTD volumes are down 3.9%. Full-size MPV sales rose 3.64% in Q3, although the YTD total lagged 2.9% behind the same period in 2004.

The largest increase in sales was again in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment, which grew by 45.7% in Q3 and 39.8% in the first nine months of the year.