Europe May 2013: Worst May in 20 years

Dacia Logan. Dacia is the best-performing major brand in Europe so far in 2013.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands by clicking on the title! *

(Note models data will be added as soon as available) New car sales in Europe are not getting better, and far from it. In May, sales are down 6% year-on-year to 1,083,930 registrations which is the lowest May figure since 1993 when the market was below 1 million units… Dark times indeed, with only a bunch of country in positive vs. May 2012: by order of size, the UK (+11%), Belgium (+9%), Sweden (+0.1%), Finland (+40%), Slovenia (+5%). Hungary (+9%) and Estonia (+18%). All others drop, with Germany and France at -10%, Italy at -8%, Bulgaria and Ireland at -23%, the Netherlands at -37% and Romania at -47%…

Mercedes is the only brand in the European Top 10 to gain ground year-on-year!

Brand-wise, the horizon is equally clouded. Volkswagen logically leads the way but sees its sales drop by 7% to 137,521 units, ahead of Ford (-0.5%), Opel (-8%) and Peugeot, up 2 spots on April to #4 thanks to the 208 and 2008 which has started like a rocket in France. Audi shines at #5 while Fiat is up 3 spots to #7. Mercedes is the only manufacturer in the Top 10 to gain ground year-year both in May at +3% to 54,496 sales and year-to-date at +4%.

Further down, Hyundai is up a nudge at +0.4% to #13, Nissan is up 6% to #14, Seat up 13% to #16 and Dacia up 16% to #17, the best-performing major brand on the continent and also up 17% to #17 year-to-date. Notice also Honda up 12% YTD, Land Rover up 11% and Jaguar up 20%.

Previous month: Europe April 2013: Audi A3 breaks into Top 10 for the first time!

One year ago: Europe May 2012: Renault Megane back into Top 10

Full May 2013 Top 30 brands Ranking Table below.