ZAGREB, June 5, 2020 - 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%).

Chinese-Croatian relations grow ever closer as the Chinese expand their business empire in Dalmatia, not merely stopping at Pelješac bridge. The Chinese are now setting their sights on a vehicle factory in southern Croatia.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 7th of April, 2019, an army of unemployed people, almost three thousand of them in total who are registered at the employment centres in Metković and Ploče in the Neretva region, received the news with understandably huge enthusiasm.

The Chinese will re-launch the Neretva valley, Slobodna Dalmacija writes, breathing life back into a part of Dalmatia that really needs it. Apart from the fact that they are already working on the aforementioned construction of the much anticipated Pelješac Bridge, the Chinese will soon embark on yet another major project in Croatia - a factory for electric cars and scooters in the Nova sela business district, which has so far been being developed in the Neretva valley's Kula Norinska area, but at a very slow pace.

This slow page is set to change a lot when the Green Tech Group, registered as a company in Zadar by Karl Soong along with Croatian entrepreneurs Mladen and Anthony Ninčević, starts with the construction of electric vehicles intended for the markets of Central and Eastern Europe down in Nova sela.

There are many unemployed people living in and around the Neretva valley, which is close enough yet just a bit too far away from potential employment in tourist areas like Dubrovnik. This news naturally brought a smile to the faces of many seeking steady work as in Kula Norinska, work began on the infrastructure in the future business zone in Nova sela, thus making this potentially enormous capital project start right there on ground in Dalmatia.

Twenty people would be employed to start things up at Dalmatia's brand new factory. However, when investment in the production of electric scooters, automobiles and batteries begins to add up and things gain some motion, up to 500 workers will be able to gain employment in various positions in the electric vehicle production facilities.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business page for more on China-Croatia relations, business in Croatia, the investment climate and working in Croatia, and much more.

Almost all 150 planned units worth 1.7 million euro each have been sold.

Nowhere in the world is running chores in public offices a joy; it usually means a heap of paperwork, lack of guidance, moody service staff, and running around like a headless chicken. 

In many countries, technology has taken over, processes have become paperless, and things can be done in just one location. Well, that phase still hasn't come to Croatia... and buying a used car here requires at least 10 pit stops, perhaps even 11 if you count therapy for PTSD afterwards, before you can drive away as the new owner.

Firstly, you have found the used vehicle that you want, and you have agreed on a price, and you will soon process the payment.

Step 1 - Notary Public

Find an authorized notary public where, together with the car owner, a purchase contract will be drafted and signed by both parties (Buyer and Seller), identifying the car and agreed selling price. The notary public will verify the identities of both Buyer and Seller and the document will be stamped and signed, ready for the next step. It is recommended you get at least two copies. If the owner doesn’t want to be dragged along through the next few steps, you can also draft a power of attorney giving you the right to do everything without him/her. 

Tip: To avoid to much driving around and searching for parking, we suggest you find a notary public close to where you will pop in for step 2. Therefore, park in the large public parking across from the Municipality building on Domovinskog Rata and find a notary public near the bus station adjacent.

Step 2 - Tax Office

On the third floor of the Municipality building on Domoviskog Rata, you can pop into room number 36 where you will get a bill of 5% of the cars value (open 7am to 3pm). You are unable to make the payment to the tax office and need to physically go to a nearby bank to pay the fee.

Step 3 - Bank

With your bill for car tax payment (5% of the car’s official value, not necessarily the value you you bought it for), go to a nearby bank to make a payment, either by cash or card. Directly behind the municipality building is an OTP bank for instance but an bank is also located in the tall Lavčević building across the main road.

Step 4 - Tax Office

After receiving payment approval n receipt from the bank, bring the paperwork back to room 36 where a payment approval awaits you to bring to the Traffic Police department.

Step 5 - Traffic Police Department

The Police Station is located on Trg hrvatske bratske zajednice 9, right next to the Croatia Osiguranje building nearby the courthouse. Walk into the right (you don’t need a number yet) and go directly to Counter 1 with your sales contract, tax payment confirmation, and ID card. She will give you a blank form with 35kn scribbled in the corner (don’t panic, you don’t need to fill it out), and two bills to pay for new plates (if needed) and owner change.

Step 6 – Bank

After you got the bills from Counter 1, pop next door to Splitska Banka to pay the fees (Cash Only!) on the two checks. About four autographs later, and a payment confirmation slip, you no longer need to make any payments…at least not old skool style in a bank.

Step 7 – Tax Stamps in Photo Olga

Across the Police Station is Photo Studio Olga and you’ll need to pop in here to buy tax stamps worth 35kn (remember the 35kn scribbled onto the blank form mentioned in Step 5). Yep, you heard me right; good old tax stamps bought in a photo studio J

Step 8 - Traffic Police Department

Return to the station and print out a queue number (press number 3 which will eventually guide you to Counter 11 when your time comes). Now just hand over the blank form, payment receipts, tax stamps, the old registration AND the license plates of the car. The lady will process new registration documents and hand over a new set of license plates. Before you start this process, ask what numbers are available in case you want something in particular. If you want to order a number, it’s a whole different ball game which you should discuss at Counter 1 when you first come in.

Step 9 - Insurance Office

Before getting your care re-registered through technical testing, you’ll need to renew your compulsory insurance. Unfortunately, rate shopping for a compulsory insurance policy doesn’t really pay dividends as the price is regulated by the government and depends solely on how many kW your cars has, and not its value or age. You can buy a policy at the Technical Testing center directly, the road leading up to it, or elsewhere. If you are looking at buying a full insurance policy, you might as well get them both from the same insurance company where in that case, rate shopping really pays off. We suggest you ask the financial advisors at OVB (www.ovb.hr) who can source much cheaper offers without charging you.

Step 10 - Technical Testing

Yey, you have come to the final phase of this lengthily and painful process! With insurance and new car paperwork in hand, drive over to the EuroDaus Technical Testing Center on Hercegovačka ulica 59. Park in the queue marked ‘Osobna Vozila’ and go indoors to register at the first counter. Go back in the car and wait in line until the technical crew instructs you further. Two counter stops and about 900kn later, you can drive out as a new car owner.

Unirent is a local car rental agency with offices in all major cities in Croatia as well as other international airports in the country. 

They have a varied fleet from budget vehicles to luxury SUVs, manual and automatic transmission, Vans, and 4x4s. Cooler yet, your preferred pick-up and drop-off location is not in a city with a Unirent office, Unirent can organize you get your car anywhere in the country if need be. 

Unirent is one of the cheapest rental agencies in Split with cards available for less than 200KN per day, depending in the time of year. 

Additionally, Unirent run a chauffeur service where they will drive you in comfort in a luxury vehicle with all the frills to your Croatian destination of choice. 

Other than in the airport in Kaštela, the downtown office in Split is conveniently located near Riva by the Church of St. Francis up the Šperun street. 

Central Reservations

Tel: +385 (0)21 797 327

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W: www.uni-rent.net

Oryx rent-a-car has a fleet of over 1700 vehicles, ranging from small to medium class. Volkswagen, Seat, Škoda and Audi are ORYX’s preferred brands starting with the hip eco-friendly VW Up and luxe options such as the Audi Q7 available.

ORYX have offices throughout Croatia; in the hinterland and stretching the coastline from Istria to Dubrovnik. This makes Oryx and ideal choice for travellers as you can select a varying pick-up and drop-off locations in Croatia.

All vehicles are air-conditions and on request you can get extra frills that make your travelling more comfortable such as children car seats, roof carriers, GPS, DVD, TV, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

ORYX offer various packages that will meet your demands, such as affordable long-term rentals, leasing, cargo rentals, and chauffeur services.

ORYX Rent-a-Car

www.oryx-rent.hr

In Split there is a branch office in the airport arrivals hall and in Split town center:

Split City

Sv. Petra Staroga 1

21000 Split

Tel: +385 (0)21 318 800


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Open Monday—Friday: 08:00—15:00
and Saturday: 09:00—14:00. Sundays on Request.

Split Airport

Kaštela

Tel: +385 (0)21 895 164


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Open
Monday—Sunday 08:00—20:00

Central Reservation Office

Ljudevita Posavskog 7a, Sesvete

Tel: +385 (0)1 2900 333
Fax: +385 (0)1 2900 306
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Open Monday—Friday: 08:00—16:00

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