Portugal January 2012: Worst January in 24 years

Peugeot 308

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Thanks Tuga *

The Portuguese car market is in free-fall again this month at 6,949 registrations, down 47% on January 2011 and the worst January since 1988. For the first time since last August the VW Golf is the best-selling model in the country with 308 sales and 4.4% sales (-42%) ahead of 2011’s best-seller the Renault Megane at 283 units and 4.1%, down a worrying 63% year-on-year.

Mercedes B-Class

The Fiat Punto Evo rounds up the podium with 215 sales, up from #10 in 2011, while the Peugeot 308 is up to a brilliant 5th place thanks to 189 units sold (-36%) and the Ford Focus is #7 at +1% year-on-year. Other great performers this month include the Smart Fortwo up to #10, the VW Passat up to #11 and the BMW 5 Series up to #12 albeit at -48% year-on-year.

BMW 1 Series

Two recent facelifts shine in January in Portugal: the Mercedes B-Class is up to an excellent 17th position with 109 sales and 1.6% share, up an amazing 627% year-on-year, and the BMW 1 Series new generation is up to #20 at 92 units and 1.3%.

Previous post: Portugal Full Year 2011: Renault Megane #1 for third year in a row

Full January 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.