Norway December 2012: Volvo V70 surprise leader

Volvo V70

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 100 best-selling models! Click on title to see, thanks Øystein *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

New car sales in Norway are down a painful 19% year-on-year in December to 9,369 registrations, bringing the Full Year 2012 total into negative at 137,967 units (-0.3%). Surprise in pole position: the Volvo V70 takes the lead with 454 sales and 4.8% share, 4 units above the traditional Norwegian leader the VW Golf at 454. This is the first time in at least 3 years that a Volvo is #1 in the monthly ranking in Norway and enables the V70 to finish the year at #5 like in 2011. The Ford Focus is up 3 spots to round up the podium at 3.3% share, ahead of the Volvo XC60 up a massive 14 ranks to #4. Notice also the Volvo V60 up 2 to #6 and the Skoda Octavia up 12 to #8.

Mazda CX-5

But the biggest performer this month in Norway is without contest the Mazda CX-5, up a huge 19 spots to break into the monthly Top 10 for the first time at #9 with 226 sales and 2.4%. The Volvo V40 holds itself within the Top 10 for the 2nd month running at #10 and the Mitsubishi Outlander stays #11. Mercedes has two models in the Top 15: the B-Class at #14 (+9) and the C-Class at #15 while it was outside the Top 30 last month. There is also the A-Class at #21 vs #93 in the Full Year… The Citroen C4 Aircross is down just one rank to #31, the Mercedes GLK up to #39 and the Opel Mokka at #65.

Full Year post: Norway Full Year 2012: VW Tiguan and Nissan Leaf impress

Previous month: Norway November 2012: Podium 100% Volkswagen

One year ago: Norway 2011: VW Golf and Passat lead, Mitsubishi ASX at world best

Full December 2012 Top 100 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.