Switzerland February 2013: Could the Skoda Octavia break 19 consecutive years of VW Golf domination?

2 out of 2 so far in 2013 for the Skoda Octavia… 10 months to go.

* See the Top 100 best-selling models and Top 37 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Switzerland are down an ok 5% year-on-year to 22,175 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 43,197 units, down 7% on 2012. And the Swiss models ranking can’t stop surprising us month after month. We (I) thought the arrival of the 7th generation would enable the VW Golf to reclaim its traditional pole position without contestation for at least the next few years. Not so. For the 2nd month in a row and the 4th time in the last 6 months after September, October and January, the Skoda Octavia is the most popular model in the country thanks to an outstanding 1,017 sales and 4.6% share, by far its best share in the last 12 months and potentially ever, to be compared with 805 units and 3.6% for the Golf.

The last time the Golf was not #1 at year-end in Switzerland it looked like this.

This means the Golf was kicked out of the #1 spot for 5 of the last 7 months, only managing to top the ranking in November and December. Knowing that the Golf has finished each year in pole position in Switzerland since the Opel Astra dominated 20 years ago in 1993, if the Skoda Octavia manages to become the best-selling model in the country in 2013 it would indeed be a historical event. But there are still 10 months to go, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In any case, this year is shaping up to be a fascinating one in Switzerland as I predicted in my last interview to World Radio Switzerland.

2013 Suzuki SX4 

In other news, the Renault Clio benefits from the new generation to jump up 12 spots on January to a fantastic 4th place with 366 sales and 1.7%, the Skoda Fabia is up 6 to #5 at 363 units and 1.6% while the Peugeot 208 stays #6 with 360 sales and 1.6% also but is up to #4 year-to-date. Exceptional hold of the Suzuki SX4 at #8, just as its replacement was unveiled locally at the Geneva Motor Show. Further down, the Volvo V40 maintains itself in the Top 20 at #19, the Subaru Forester is up a huge 106 ranks to #21 thanks to the new model, the Opel Mokka is up 16 to #28, Seat Leon up 46 to #29, Mini Countryman up 25 to #35 and the Opel Adam lands directly at #95 for its first month in market.

Previous month: Switzerland January 2013: Skoda Octavia back on top

One year ago: Switzerland February 2012: 5 Volkswagens in Top 6!

Full February 2013 Top 100 models and Top 37 All-brands Ranking Tables below.