Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

The VW Golf grabs just under 10% of the German market this month.

* See the Top 300 best-selling models and Top 50 brands by clicking on the title *

* There is now also a Top 130 Private Sales ranking available here *

The German new car market is back into negative in November at -2% year-on-year to 254,651 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,737,111 sales, down 5% or 140,000 units on 2012. For the first time since last July, Volkswagen monopolises the models ranking podium, with each vehicle delivering very solid results: the Golf sells 25,233 units for a massive 9.9% market share, its strongest since March 2010! In fact the last time the Golf broke past the 10% share barrier was just one month before in February 2010 (10.1%). Keep in mind Golf figures include the Golf Plus and Jetta in Germany, however these two models account for a tiny portion of sales. The Polo is also under the spotlight: up two spots on October to #2 and 2.7%, its best ranking and share in Germany since last April. The Passat rounds up the podium with 2.5% of the market which is also its year-to-date level.

Audi A3 Limousine

With the “Limousine” sedan variant now spreading in Audi dealerships across the country, the Audi A3 delivers another bumper month: it is #4 with 6,239 sales and 2.5%. This is the 6th time since the nameplate was introduced back in 1996 that the A3 ever ranks inside the German Top 4, including 5 times in 2013: December 2010 (#4), April 2013 (#4), June 2013 (#4), August 2013 (#2), October 2013 (#3) and November 2013 (#4). Definitely a striking long-term upwards trend for Audi’s compact car, and it should continue this way as the Limousine version settles in.

Third consecutive month inside the German Top 10 for the Skoda Octavia.

Another model on an impressive curve up is the Skoda Octavia. Launched in 1996 also, the Octavia delivers a third consecutive month inside the German Top 10 at #8 with 5,244 sales and 2.1% share, after ranking #5 in September and #7 in October. What’s astounding in this stat is that before September, the Octavia only managed to break into the Top 10 twice in the last 17 years, both also achieved in the past year or so: September 2012 (#9) and March 2013 (#9)… As for the A3, the current generation has definitely lifted the Octavia to brand new heights in Germany, and in the whole of Western Europe by the same token.

The Seat Leon is up to an all-time high #20 this month.

Other noticeable moves include the Ford Fiesta up 10 spots on October to #6, the Seat Leon up 3 ranks to equal its highest ever ranking in Germany at #20 (also reached last August) – bear in mind Leon sales include Altea and Toledo figures, the Fiat 500 up 5 to #23 – including the 500L and the only ‘true’ foreign model inside the Top 30 this month if we consider Skoda and Seat as kind of German. The Hyundai i10 is up 15 spots to #34, the Renault Scenic up 13 to #38, Renault Captur up 5 to #60 (the Clio is #47), Peugeot 2008 up 10 to #61 (the 208 is #54), Toyota RAV4 up 47 to #72 and Dacia Logan up 10 to #78.

Ford Ecosport

As far as new launches are concerned, the BMW 4 Series is slowing gearing up: from #118 in October to #103 and 551 sales this month, the BMW 2 Series is up 110 spots to #166 at 162 units, the BMW i3 down 21 ranks to #181, Mercedes GLA down 3 to #201 but we’re still talking about demo models, the Maserati Ghibli ranks #254 with 16 sales and we welcome the Ford Ecosport in the ranking at #229 with 37 sales for now. Brand-wise, notice Volkswagen at 23.8% vs. 21.7% year-to-date, Skoda up 32%, Seat up 11% (+23% year-to-date!), Nissan up 17% and Mazda up 20%.

Previous month: Germany October 2013: Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia impress again

One year ago: Germany November 2012: Ford Fiesta and Audi Q5 impress

Full November 2013 Top 300 models and Top 50 brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

VW Tiguan

* See the Top 130 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

I give you the ranking for now, complete analysis will follow shortly.

Previous month: Germany Private Sales October 2013: Mercedes A-Class on podium

Full November 2013 Top 130 models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

GMC Sierra – Pick-up trucks have brought the US market up big time in 2013.

* See the Top 278 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After going through November sales figures, we now follow the BSCB tradition to try and extract some longer-term trends by looking into the year-to-date charts. And with only one month to go before 2013 is over, this is akin to a Full Year study! So far new light vehicle sales in the USA are up a fantastic 8% on 2012 to 14.24 million units, to be compared to the 14.49 million units reached over the Full Year 2012 and on track to deliver the best year this country has seen since 2007.

The Subaru Forester delivers the biggest year-on-year sales gain in the Top 50.

Even though pick-up trucks are still the major force behind these excellent figures, it’s the Subaru Forester that delivers the biggest year-on-year increase in the Top 50, up 63% to #40 thanks to the new model and lifting Subaru up 30% year-on-year to best-ever sales. The Toyota RAV4 up 25% to #16, Hyundai Elantra up 24% to #13, and Ford Fusion up 22% to #11 follow. The best-selling pick-ups are just below: the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado are simply majestic atop the ranking at +19% each, Ram Pick-up at +22% and GMC Sierra at +20%.

The Jeep Cherokee is the most satisfying launch of 2013…

Beyond the Top 50 we have the Nissan Pathfinder up 136% to #53 solely due to the new generation, the Mazda CX-5 up 95% to #62, Toyota Avalon up 166% to #68, Dodge Durango up 48% to #75, Acura RDX up 59% to #91 and the VW Beetle up 55% to #92, pretty much the only Volkswagen in great shape this year. Notice also the Nissan Leaf up 141% to #140 vs. -1% and #138 for its archenemy the Chevrolet Volt, the Range Rover already up 66% to #177, Porsche Boxster up 71% to #221, Porsche Cayman up 587% to #230 and the Mercedes G-Class up 97% to #236.

…followed by the Mercedes CLA…

Perhaps the most surprising characteristic of the US car market this year is the low number of new nameplates entering the market even though sales are definitely on a steep growing curve. Only 12 all-new models have made their appearance so far this year, that a bit more than one a month (vs. 3 to 6 in China) and this actually balances off all the cars signing out this year: we have 278 vehicles in the ranking in 2013 vs. 277 one year ago. Keep in mind the entire Suzuki range (4 models) will disappear altogether in January, and this makes for a gloomy picture…

…and the Infinti Q50.

We have to scroll all the way down to #119 to find the best performing all-new entrant: the Buick Encore with 29,195 sales, a so-so result. The Infiniti Q50 is much more impressive even though it only ranks #166 with 13,248 sales for now, however it reached #67 in November. The Mercedes CLA is second most satisfying launch of the year, racking up 10,828 units in only 3 months (#178) with a peak at #76 in October. The Jeep Cherokee, after its launch was delayed multiple times, made a big splash in November, landing directly at #35 with 10,169 sales, making it the most successful launch of the year.

Previous post: USA November 2013: Jeep Cherokee lands at #35 in best November in 10 years

Previous month: USA 10 months 2013: Discover the Top 278 best-selling models!

One year ago: USA 11 months 2012: Discover the Top 277 best-selling models!

Full 11 months 2013 Top 278 models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

The Jeep Cherokee sold over 10,000 units for its first full month in market.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 256 All-models and Top 38 All-brands! Click on title to see *

If going through European car sales updates depresses you, I have one cure: follow the US market! It’s another euphoric score in November, up 9% year-on-year to 1.24 million units which brings the year-to-date total to 14.24 million, up 8% on 2012. But wait there’s more good news: according to Autonews, the industry annualised rate hit 16.4 million units in November, up 15.3 million a year earlier and the best SAAR since the 16.8 million hit in February 2007, 10 months before the recession hit the US market full frontal. Another feel-good stat: this month is the best November since 2003 and only 84,000 units shy of the industry’s best November ever – in 2001, when sales totaled 1.328 million…

The Toyota RAV4 is at its highest in the US in 3 years.

General Motors and Chrysler delivered the biggest year-on-year increases this month: GM sales are up 14% off the back of a 19% rise in volume to individual customers. GMC is up 20%, Chevrolet and Buick up 13% and Cadillac up 11%. With the new Jeep Cherokee being snapped up at over 10,000 units for its first full month in market, Chrysler Group sales are up 16% on November 2012, its 44th consecutive monthly advance. Jeep is up 30%, Ram up 25%, Chrysler up 12% and Dodge up 4% but Fiat is down 15%. For its part Ford is up 7%, with the F-Series above 60,000 units for the seventh straight month. In other carmakers news, Nissan, Hyundai, Subaru and Land Rover all set November volume records this month!

The 2014 model pushes the Kia Soul up 77% year-on-year this month.

Model-wise, great year-on-year gains inside the Top 50 include the Ford Fusion up 51% to #9, Toyota RAV4 up 56% to #12 (its highest ranking since October 2010), Chevrolet Malibu up 41% to #19, Chevrolet Impala up 22% to #21, Subaru Forester up 135% to #23, Kia Soul up 77% to #25, Nissan Sentra up 62% to #25 and the Chrysler Town & Country up 70% to #31. As described above, the Jeep Cherokee is up 166 spots on October to land directly at #35 with 10,169 sales.

The Nissan Maxima is knocking on the US Top 50′s door this month…

Further down, notice the Mercedes E-Class up 11 spots to #47 vs. #72 year-to-date, the Nissan Maxima up 32 to #54 vs. #84, the Infiniti Q50 almost slicing its October ranking in two to a best-ever #64 with 5,891 sales (its first time inside the US Top 100), Mercedes CLA Class down 21 to #97, the Mitsubishi Mirage and Ram ProMaster both breaking into the US Top 200 for the first time and for their second month in market at #175 (+39) and #184 (+18) respectively and the Chevrolet SS going from one unit (#258) in October to 178 (#239) this month.

Previous post: USA 8 months 2013 by State: Ford F-Series #1 in 35 States!

Previous year-to-date post: USA 10 months 2013: Discover the Top 278 best-selling models!

Previous month: USA October 2013: Podium 100% pick-ups for the first time in 8 years!

One year ago: USA November 2012: Honda Civic #1 Passenger Car, hits highest ranking since August 2009

Full November 2013 Top 256 All-models, Top 38 All-brands and Top 15 Groups Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Suzuki SX4

* See the Top 220 best-selling models and Top 42 All-brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Ran @www.cartube.co.il *

The Israeli new car market is up by a shy 1% year-on-year in November to 16,691 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 200,996 units, up 3% on 2012. The Toyota Corolla confirms it’s the new darling of Israeli customers, holding onto its pole position for the third month in a row thanks to 838 sales and 5% share. The Corolla is now up to #3 year-to-date at 7,959 units and 4%, and while the Kia Picanto is now unassailable at 8,976 sales and 4.5%, the Ford Focus, #9 this month with 353 sales and 2.1%, may have to give up its year-to-date 2nd spot to the Corolla by the time 2013 comes to an end. The best performer this month is the Suzuki SX4: boosted by the new S-Cross model, it is up a further two ranks on October to land in 2nd place only 50 units below the Corolla at 788 sales and 4.7%…

Toyota Corolla

Just outside the podium we have 3 Hyundais in a row: the i35 (aka Elantra), i30 and i25 (aka Accent) while the Skoda Octavia remains very solid at #7 and 2.6% vs. #13 year-to-date. The Mitsubishi Space Star continues to impress, up 6 spots to #12, as does the Mitsubishi Outlander at #14 vs. #20 year-to-date and the Honda Jazz at #15 vs. #41. Notice also the Toyota Auris up 18 ranks to #20, the Mazda3 slowly but surely getting back into shape now that the new generation is here, up 36 spots to #26, the Suzuki Grand Vitara up 62 to #46, Peugeot 301 up 51 to #49 and Renault Captur up 31 to #72.

Previous month: Israel October 2013: Toyota Corolla #1, Kia Picanto leads year-to-date

Previous year: Israel Full Year 2012: Ford Focus runaway leader

Full November 2013 Top 220 models and Top 42 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

The Peugeot 2008 is up to #12 in Italy this month…

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 50 models! *

* See the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 45 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

42nd consecutive month of year-on-year decline for new car sales in Italy, down 5% on November 2012 to 102,729 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,220,788 units, down 8% on 2012. The Fiat Panda is the best-seller in the country for the 23rd month in a row thanks to 7,724 sales and 7.5% while the Fiat Punto, still in desperate need of a refresh, falls to new lows at 4,363 units and 4.2% market share, the nameplate’s lowest ever since its original launch in November 1993… That sad record has now been broken 3 times in the past year: from 4.7% in September 2008 to 4.6% in August 2012, 4.4% in March 2013, 4.3% in September 2013 and 4.2% now…

Fiat 500L

The Fiat 500L ranks above the 500 for the 5th consecutive month at #4 with 3,410 sales and 3.3% vs. #6 with 2,892 units and 2.8% while the Ford Fiesta, back up from #8 to #5 and 2.9%, prevents the Top 5 from being 100% Italian and the Smart Fortwo breaks into the Top 10 at #10. The biggest news of the month lies just outside the Top 10: for the very first time, the Peugeot 2008 manages to sell more units than the 208 on which it is based for: it is up 5 spots on October to reach an all-time high #12 with 1,809 sales and 1.8% vs. #15 and 1.5% for the 208. The 2008 also beats its archenemy the Renault Captur for the first time: the latter is down 3 ranks to a still very respectable #17 with 1,486 units and 1.4%. Notice also the Dacia Sandero inside the Top 20 for the 7th consecutive month (!), the Toyota Auris up 6 spots to #33 and the Chevrolet Trax down one to #41.

Previous post: Italy October 2013: Now with the Top 150 best-selling models!

Previous month: Italy October 2013: Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 both in Top 20

One year ago: Italy November 2012: Fiat 500L breaks into Top 10!

Full November 2013 Top 50 models and Top 45 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Honda N-WGN

* See the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 8 All-brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Stephen *

Sales of new Kei cars in Japan continue on their great run: they are up a splendid 21% year-on-year in November to 180,971 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,944,246 units, up 5% on 2012 and more than the entire French car market… The Honda N-Box holds onto its pole position thanks to sales up 19% year-on-year to 19,513, but is threatened this month by the Daihatsu Tanto boosted by the new model and up 56% to 19,246. The Daihatsu Move also impresses at +51% to 12,677 units. The N-Box is now assured to finish the year at #1 for the very first time, with sales adding up to 216,867 after 11 months vs. 193,646 for the Daihatsu Move.

Daihatsu Tanto

Further down, the Suzuki Spacia is down 3 spots from a fantastic 2nd spot last month to a still very satisfying #5 at 12,192 sales, the Nissan Dayz is down one to #7 and 9,055 units, the Mitsubishi eK is up 83% year-on-year to #11 and 3,707 sales and the Toyota Pixis Space is stable at #12, still the brand’s only offering in the Kai car category. Finally, we welcome an all-new model in the sales charts this month: the third iteration of Honda’s N-range: the N-WGN lands directly at #13 with 2,910 sales.

Previous month: Japan Kei cars October 2013: Suzuki Spacia up to #2

One year ago: Japan Kei cars November 2012: Honda N-One already close to 10,000 sales

Full November 2013 Top 25 models and Top 8 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

The Dacia Sandero is #7 in Scotland and #9 in Wales this month!

* See the Top 10 best-selling models for each nation by clicking on the title! *

Thanks to SMMT, I can share with you the best-sellers for each nation in the UK in November, all in one update. Keep in mind this is a zoom in into each nation, all figures are already included in the UK overall update. If the UK market is up a flamboyant 7% year-on-year in November, Northern Ireland (+18%) and Wales (+13%) over perform, while Scotland (+6%) and England (+7%) are within the average.

In Scotland, the Ford Fiesta reclaims the pole position after a two month-hiatus thanks to 686 sales and 4.9%, adding up to 10,333 units and 5.3%, but this is not enough to pass the Vauxhall Corsa year-to-date at 10,662 and 5.5%. The Corsa should still be able to lodge a 6th consecutive year atop the Scottish sales charts this year. Good showing of the VW Polo up 4 spots on October to #4 while the Fiat 500 is down 3 to a still brilliant 6th place. But the big news is below: while the brand only launched in the country last January, the Dacia Sandero manages to claw its way within the 10 most popular models in Scotland for the very first time at #7 with a formidable 227 sales and 2% share! An extremely promising performance that should be improved in 2014. Notice also the Renault Clio back up to #8 and the Seat Ibiza breaking into the Top 10 at #10.

The Renault Clio is #7 in Northern Ireland and #8 in Scotland.

In Wales, the Top 4 best-sellers are identical to last month: the Ford Fiesta leads by far with 7.5% share, followed by the Ford Focus (3.6%), Vauxhall Astra (3.2%) and Vauxhall Corsa (2.8%). The VW Polo is back inside the Top 10 at #5 while both the Vauxhall Zafira and Ford C-Max are stable vs. October in 8th and 10th place respectively. Here too the big news come from French-Romanian brand Dacia: the Sandero historically breaks into the Welsh Top 10 for the very first time, shooting up to #9 with 97 sales and 1.7% share! This is a rather astounding performance for a carmaker that was unknown to all before this year. It will be fascinating to follow the Sandero’s progression in 2014 as Skoda’s success in the whole of the UK has demonstrated that customers are really keen for great value for money in this country.

The Vauxhall Astra is #1 in Northern Ireland and #2 in England.

In Northern Ireland, the models ranking is back to some kind of normality after crowning the Nissan Qashqai in October. In fact, the entire Top 5 is reversed vs. October, with the Vauxhall Astra jumping from #5 to #1 at 109 sales and 3.5%, the Ford Focus up from #4 to #2, the Ford Fiesta stable at #3, VW Golf down from #2 to #4 and Nissan Qashqai from #1 to #5… The Nissan Juke is up one spot to reach #6, by far its highest ranking in all nations in the UK this month. Finally, the Renault Clio is back among the nation’s 10 most popular models at #7 with 81 sales and 2.6%, which earns it a #10 spot year-to-date.

In England, the ranking is logically very similar to the UK one as England represents 86% of overall UK sales this month. We still have a few differences in the Top 10: the Vauxhall Astra passes the Ford Focus to become #2 with 4,481 sales and 3.3%, the BMW 3 Series and Nissan Qashqai exchange spots to #7 at 2,776 units and 2% and #9 with 2,568 sales and 1.9% respectively. Year-to-date however, with the Vauxhall Astra now above the VW Golf at #4, there is now no difference in the Top 10 with the UK ranking.

Previous month: Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland/England (UK) October 2013: Nissan Qashqai tops one nation, Fiat 500 on podium!

Full November 2013 Top 10 models Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Citroen C4

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 30 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

The Croatian new car market confirms it is back on track, up a splendid 18% year-on-year to a nevertheless still weak 1,922 registrations, reducing the year-to-date drop to 13% at 26,080 units. Two Volkswagens lead the sales charts once again: the Golf reinforces its year-to-date lead by selling 135 units for a shiny 7% market share while the Polo is at 64 sales and 3.3%. The best performer this month is the Citroen C4, which led the Full Year 2012 Croatian private sales ranking, up 17 spots on October to land on the third step of the podium thanks to 60 units sold for a 3.1% share vs. #14 and 1.9% year-to-date. Notice also the Peugeot 208 back up 11 ranks to #6, the Kia Cee’d stable at #8 vs. #12 year-to-date and the Ford Fiesta up 14 to #11.

Previous month: Croatia October 2013: Skoda Octavia up, Renault Captur in Top 10

One year ago: Croatia November 2012: VW Polo and Renault Clio impress

Full November 2013 Top 20 models and Top 30 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

Vauxhall Insignia

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and Top 42 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Euphoric times continue in the UK with sales up year-on-year for the 21st month in a row at +7% to 159,581, the highest November score since 2004 and bringing the year-to-date total to 2,111,819 units, up 10% on 2012 and already higher than the Full Year 2012 result (2,044,609)! The Ford Fiesta and Focus hold the Top 2 spots as is the case year-to-date, while the Vauxhall Astra is up two spots on last month to climb onto the podium for the third time in the last 5 months. The Vauxhall Insignia enjoys the effects of its facelift, also up 2 ranks to #6 with 3,175 sales and 2% share, its highest ranking in the country since December 2011.

Fiat 500

Further down, the Fiat 500 is up one spot on October to #8 with 3,024 units and 1.9%, its highest ever monthly ranking and market share in the country, also reached last April. The Nissan Juke delivers its 5th month inside the UK Top 10 this year (and ever) at #10 with 2,851 units and 1.8% but is still outside the year-to-date Top 10. Brand-wise, BMW passes Audi to rank #4, Mercedes is up 18% year-on-year to #7, Skoda up 35% to #9, Renault finally turning the corner and up 39% to #14, Fiat up 53% to #15, Seat up 23% to #18, Suzuki up 58% to #21 and Dacia finding itself a place in the sun at #22 just above Mazda.

Previous month: UK October 2013: Nissan Juke up to all-time high #7

One year ago: UK November 2012: Ford Focus edges past Fiesta for pole position

Full November 2013 Top 10 models and Top 42 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…