Spain 6 months 2013: Opel Corsa threatens Seat Ibiza domination

The Seat Ibiza may struggle to lodge a 5th consecutive year at #1 in Spain…

* See the Top 100 best-selling models and Top 53 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

As promised yesterday, I now kick start a series of articles that look at the year-to-date rankings of the Top 20 biggest car markets in the world, to extract longer-term trends. We have explored the USA and China already, now let’s have a look at Spain. The Spanish new car market continues its descent into lowest levels in at least 25 years, down 5% year-on-year to drop below 400,000 units (386,703) for the first time since sales statistics started getting compiled for Spain in 1989…

…and could give up its throne to the Opel Corsa.

The Seat Ibiza has been the most popular car in the country for the last 4 consecutive years, however it may struggle to keep its title this year. Granted, the Ibiza is still #1 halfway through 2013 with 13,690 sales and 3.5% share, but it is falling faster than the market (-13%) and has only topped the monthly sales charts once so far, in April. Reversely, the Opel Corsa ranked #1 three times already (March, May and June), is up 20% on last year and only 336 units below the Ibiza at 13,354…

Launched in early 2012, Peugeot 208 sales are up 256% year-on-year in H1 2013.

With lower sales levels comes a more volatile models ranking and apart from the Opel Corsa two additional models topped the monthly ranking for the first time in Spain: the Dacia Sandero did so in January and ranks #12 year-to-date with 7,178 sales and 1.9%, up 61% and 13 ranks on 2012, while the VW Polo was #1 in February and is up 2% to #3 at 11,611 units and 3% year-to-date. 4 models make their (re)appearance inside the Spanish Top 10 over the period: the Seat Leon is up 7 spots and 30% to #4, the Renault Clio up 10 and 68% to #6 thanks to the new generation, the Peugeot 208 is up 36 ranks and 256% to #7 and the Opel Astra up 4 and 7% to #10.

The new model pushed Mercedes A-Class sales up 201% year-on-year.

Fighting with the Ibiza for the overall #1 spot last year, the Nissan Qashqai is down 13% to #5 so far in 2013. Further down, notice the Hyundai i30 up 47% to #17, the Nissan Juke up 37% to #20, Audi A1 up 21% to #23, BMW 3 Series up 49% to #25, Mercedes A-Class up 201% to #32 and the Kia Cee’d up 81% to #33. Even though it is contracting, the Spanish new car market is getting more competitive, with no less than 9 all-new models in the Top 100, led by the Seat Toledo at #42, the Citroen C-Elysee at #61, Fiat 500L at #62, Opel Mokka at #73, Mercedes CLA at #81 and Volvo V40 at #82.

The Seat Toledo (#42) and Citroen C-Elysee (#61) are the best performing all-new models.

Brand-wise, lost of change atop the sales charts: thanks to the success of the Leon and Toledo, Seat reclaims the title of most popular carmaker in the country, up 2 spots and 8% year-on-year to 35,028 sales and 9.1% share. Leader last year, Volkswagen is down 12% to #2 at 33,490 units and 8.7% while Opel, pushed by the Corsa and Astra, is up 3 ranks and 7% to #3 at 31,748 units and 8.2%, kicking Peugeot out of the podium (#4 at -6%). In spite of sales down 7%, Renault is up 2 spots to #5. That’s because Ford (-18%) and Citroen (-23%) fall harder. Further down, Hyundai and BMW are both up 7%, Mercedes is up 9%, Dacia up 41% and Fiat up 14%.

Previous post: Spain June 2013: Opel Corsa confirms #1 spot, Dacia Sandero #5

One year ago: Spain June 2012: Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 208 and Audi A1 resist

Full 6 months 2013 Top 100 models and Top 53 All-brands Ranking Tables below.