Norway March 2013: Mazda CX-5 threatens VW Golf

Mazda CX-5

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 best-selling models/Top 10 brands! Click on title to see *

Difficult month for new car sales in Norway, down 18% year-on-year in March to 10,735 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 33,696 units, now in negative compared to 2012 at -3%. In 2011 the Mitsubishi ASX got to a point when it amazingly threatened the VW Golf for the Norwegian pole position. It turned out to be a bit of a one-hit wonder as it hasn’t appeared in the Top 20 for almost a year now. With another time comes another extremely successful compact SUV: the Mazda CX-5 which after beating all records in February when it reached a world-best 2nd place with 497 sales and 4.4%, improves again this month to 4.6% thanks to 489 units – now only 0.6% below the VW Golf. The next few month will decide whether this is another shooting star or whether the CX-5 is here to stay in Norway.

Nissan Leaf

Each following model within the Top 5 lodges an outstanding month. The Toyota Auris remains third with 400 sales and 3.7%, the Nissan Leaf improves on a record month of February to a world-best 4th position with 297 units and 2.8% which are also its volume and share records in the country, and the Volvo V40 breaks into the Top 5 for the first time, up 4 spots on February to #5 with 270 sales and 2.5%. Notice also the Mitsubishi Ooutlander down to #12 but still #5 year-to-date vs. #28 in 2012, the Mercedes A-Class at #14 vs. #93 over the Full Year 2012, the Opel Mokka up to #18 and the Mitsubishi Space Star landing at #39.

Previous month: Norway February 2013: Nissan Leaf up to world-best 5th place

One year ago: Norway March 2012: VW Golf reclaims pole position

Full March 2013 Top 50 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.