Europe: VW Golf 7 launches today with already 40,000 pre-orders
* Click on title to see the Golf’s sales in Germany since 1974 and in Europe since 1983 *
By the end of 2012, the VW Golf will have been #1 in Europe for 24 of the last 30 years, and #1 in Germany for the last 32 years in a row…
Today, the seventh generation of Volkswagen’s most important model arrives in German dealerships, with other European countries following in the coming weeks. And two days ago, the German manufacturer announced it has already received more than 40,000 pre-orders.
See the Golf’s sales in Germany since 1974 and in Europe since 1983 below (57 articles!)
Germany 1974-2011:
Germany 1974: Mercedes ‘Strich 8′ surprise best-seller
Germany 1975: VW Golf takes the lead
Germany 1976-1979: VW Golf establishes leadership
Germany 1980: Mercedes W123 passes VW Golf!
Germany 1981-1983: VW Golf reclaims top spot
Germany 1984-1987: New gen takes VW Golf sales to record levels
Germany 1988: VW Golf and Opel Kadett sovereign
Germany 1989: VW Golf leads, VW Passat on podium
Germany 1990: VW Golf and Opel Kadett dominate, Opel Vectra up
Germany 1991: East and West reunite, VW Golf and Opel Kadett leadGermany 1992: VW Golf III and Opel Astra gear up
Germany 1993: BMW 3 Series on the podium for the first time
Germany 1994: VW Golf leads, Mercedes C Class shines
Germany 1995: VW Golf #1, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 strong
Germany 1996: VW Golf leads, Opel Corsa and VW Polo up
Germany 1997: Last year of VW Golf III reign, VW Passat up to #4
Germany 1998: VW Golf #1 for 18th consecutive year
Germany 1999: Ford Focus and Mercedes A Class arrive
Germany 2000: BMW 3 Series threatens Opel Astra for #2
Germany 2001: #2 not an Opel for the first time in 15 years!
Germany 2002: BMW 3 Series #2 for the first time
Germany 2003: VW Golf feels the heat
Germany 2004: VW Golf V leads, Opel Astra back to #2
Germany 2005: VW Golf and Opel Astra on top, new gen VW Passat arrives
Germany 2006: VW Golf cannibalised by Golf Plus version
Germany 2007: New Mercedes C Class and Opel Corsa up
Germany 2008: Audi A4 and Mercedes C Class on podium
Germany 2009: Scrappage scheme sends models ranking wild
Europe 1983-2011:
Europe 1983-1987: Second generation VW Golf takes the lead
Europe 1988: VW Golf and Fiat Uno on top
Europe 1989: VW Golf and Opel Kadett dominate
Europe 1990: VW Golf, Opel Kadett and Fiat Uno on podium
Europe 1991: VW Golf leads, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio follow
Europe 1992: New gen VW Golf and Opel Astra on top
Europe 1993-1994: VW Golf stays on top, Opel Astra #2
Europe 1995: Fiat Punto interrupts 154 months of VW Golf domination
Europe 1996: VW Golf resists Fiat Punto assault
Europe 1997: Fiat Punto crowned for the first time
Europe 1998: VW Golf, Renault Megane and Fiat Punto lead
Europe 1999: Opel Astra a serious threat to VW Golf
Europe 2000: VW Golf and Fiat Punto in the lead
Europe 2001: VW Golf, Peugeot 206 and Fiat Punto on podium
Europe 2002: VW Golf only 500 units above the Peugeot 206
Europe 2003: Peugeot 206 most popular, VW Golf down to #2
Europe 2004: VW Golf, Peugeot 206 and 307 on podium
Europe 2005: VW Golf keeps Opel Astra at bay, or does it?
Europe 2006: Opel Astra triumphs, Ford Focus and Renault Clio close behind
Europe 2007: Peugeot 207 edges VW Golf out
Europe 2008: VW Golf defies the GFC
Europe 2009: VW Golf and Ford Fiesta dominate
Europe 2010: VW Golf leader ahead of Ford Fiesta and VW Polo
Europe 2010: Top 371 All models ranking now available!
Hi all.
I am doing a paper on the parallel car market in Europe, especially the meaning of parallel car sales (meaning: not via the official dealership) in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland), Denmark and Holland.
Europe is trying to free the market, in which they succeed in some countries better than in others. Germany, France and Switzerland, for instance, have become pretty significant markets for parallel import and export. I would like to know what the evolutions are in the above mentioned countries. Do you have some contacts in those countries that can be considered car sales market specialist?
If you have information please respond to this comment or fill in the ‘Contact us’ form on here and Matt will get us in contact.
Much obliged – thanks you in advance.
Herman/Belgium
@Miguel
Me too, you hit the nail into the wall
@SlumLord
The VW Golf VII must be ok but it´s not for me at all. I ´d never buy it!!!!!!!
The VW Golf VII must be ok but it´s not for me at all. I ´d never buy it!!!!!!!
This article seems regrettably (and untypically) like a puff for VW!
Hi Paul,
Pre-orders and orders are the first hint at how successful a new model is going to be. I have written articles about other models’ orders, like the Mercedes A-Class 70,000 orders:
http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/10/24/europe-a-class-mercedes-most-successful-launch-at-70000-orders/
Or the Ferrari F12 selling out:
http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/09/22/europe-us350000-ferrari-f12-berlinetta-already-sold-out/
Or the Opel Mokka’s orders:
http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/08/31/europe-over-25000-orders-for-the-opel-mokka/
The fact is the Volkswagen Golf has been the best-selling model in Europe for most of the last 30 years so a new generation is a very important event, as is a new generation of world-best-selling Toyota Corolla which will be covered shortly.
Hope you enjoy the blog!
cheers
Matt
I like the new Golf. Go # 7 !
Is that Dave Gahan at the end of this commercial ???
Only braindeads would a golf today.