Europe 2000: VW Golf and Fiat Punto in the lead

VW Golf

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

In 2000 the VW Golf manages to keep the title of Europe’s best-selling car for the 17th year in the last 18 without too much difficulty. It delivers 690,400 sales for a 4.7% market share, down 2% on 1999. The Opel Astra threat has gone away, down 16% to 575,400 sales in 3rd place.

Fiat Punto

The Fiat Punto, helped by a dynamic facelift late last year, is back on the podium at #2 after fading out to 6th in 1999. It is up 30% this year with 583,900 sales. Continuing to gear up 18 months after its launch, the Peugeot 206 reaches heights unknown to the brand since the eighties and the Peugeot 205. It is 4th, up 3 spots and 27% with 556,600 units and passes another recent model, the Ford Focus, still #5 but up 11% at 525,000 units.

BMW 3 Series

The Renault Megane and Scenic sales are now split and the Scenic is very solid in 9th position with 337,400 sales, up 13%. The BMW 3 Series breaks into the European Year-end Top 10 for the first time with 330,400 sales. Note a different source places the 3 Series at #9, the Megane at #10 and the Scenic at #11. Further along the ranking, notice the Opel Zafira breaking into the Top 20 at #19 with 200,236 sales, up 108%, the Toyota Yaris up 17 ranks to #22 and the Citroen Xsara Picasso landing directly at #31.

Previous year: Europe 1999: Opel Astra a serious threat to the VW Golf

Next year: Europe 2001: VW Golf, Peugeot 206 and Ford Focus on podium

Full Year 2000 Top 50 Ranking Table and all model sales below.