Germany 1998: VW Golf #1 for 18th consecutive year

VW Golf

In 1998 the VW Golf celebrates its 18th consecutive year atop the German model ranking (it’s an adult now!) with a 21% sales increase thanks to the arrival of the 4th generation launched in late 1997. The Golf nameplate is back above 300,000 annual sales with 338,550 units changing hands this year.

Opel Astra

The Opel Astra also has the benefit of a new generation this year and it showed: with sales up 15% it reinforces its 2nd spot at 220,095 units. The VW Passat is back on the podium for the first time since 1992 with 160,127 sales, up 13%, passing the Opel Corsa, down 10% to 128,147 units. The Opel Vectra stays solid at #5 and the BMW 3 Series is up 3 spots and 15% at #6.

VW Passat

The Renault Twingo is the import king for the second year in a row with sales up 2% to a best-ever 58,495 units a good 6 years after its launch! Following are the Fiat Punto at #20 and 55,491 sales, the Renault Scenic at #21 and 47,986 units and the Renault Megane at #23 and 40,431 sales.

There are a few interesting newcomers in the German Top 50 this year: the Mercedes A Class lands in 16th place for its first full year, already above its main competitor the Audi A3 (#18), the Skoda Octavia is #36 and the all-new VW Lupo arrives at #46.

Full Top 100 Ranking Table below.