Europe September 2012: Toyota Yaris in Top10, market down 11%

Toyota Yaris

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

This is it. With 4 of the Top 5 European markets in significant decline in September (Germany -11%, France -18%, Italy -26% and Spain -40%), the overall new car market in Europe is now officially in recession, down 11% year-on-year this month, its biggest yoy drop so far in 2012… 1,132,908 new vehicles found a buyer in September vs. 1,275,922 on year ago, bringing the year-to-date total to 9,749,100 units, down 7% on 2011.

Prospective Golf buyers are holding off until the 7th gen becomes available in November (L’Argus)

The VW Golf holds onto its pole position with a comfortable margin but is falling faster than the market, with the 6th generation of the model on its last lap. It sold 38,669 units this month and 340,448 year-to-date (-10%), still around 100,000 above the Ford Fiesta, #2 both in September and year-to-date at -13% each time. Helped by a buoyant English market (+8%), the Opel Corsa is up one spot on August to #3 and the Ford Focus is back within the Top 10 at #4 with 24,061 sales (-24%).

Peugeot 208 

The Peugeot 208 celebrates its third consecutive month in the European Top 5 at #5 and 23,225 units, while the VW Polo is down a surprising 35% year-on-year and 5 ranks on August to #7. The main event this month is the 10th position of the Toyota Yaris, up an astounding 69% year-on-year in September to 17,933 sales and 29% year-to-date to 134,066. It’s only the 2nd time ever the Yaris manages to rank within the Top 10 most popular cars in Europe and also the 2nd time in the last 6 months with last March.

With the Nissan Qashqai ranking #9 this month, it’s only the second time in car history in Europe after last March that two Japanese models – coincidentally (?) both built locally in the UK for the Qashqai and France for the Yaris – manage to rank within the European Top 10 at the same time…

Previous month: Europe August 2012: Peugeot 208 on podium, Audi #2 brand!

Previous full ranking: Europe 7 months 2012: Now available with Top 325 models!

One year ago: Europe September 2011: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10

Full September 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.