Spain September 2013: VW Golf and Peugeot 308 on top

Peugeot 308 and VW Golf

* See the Top 200 best-selling models and Top 45 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

The Spanish new car market is definitely taking us on a roller-coaster of emotions (so to speak) this year! After gaining 16% in July but falling back to hell at -18% in August, September is up 29% year-on-year on, granted, what was the worst ever recorded month in the history of Spanish car sales to 45,284 units. The year-to-date total now stands at 547,147 registrations, down just 2% on 2012. With weaker sales the Spanish models ranking has become very volatile and once again we have a complete reshuffle atop the sales charts this month: the VW Golf takes the lead thanks to 1,441 sales and 3.2% and is the only car above 3% share this month – meaning Spain is fast becoming one of the most fragmented markets in the world along with Switzerland and the US. This is to my knowledge the first time the Golf tops the Spanish sales charts, and this performance enables Volkswagen to reclaim the year-to-date brand lead over Seat.

Renault Captur

In second place we have another surprise: boosted by the new generation spreading into dealerships across the country, the Peugeot 308 is up 3 spots on an already excellent month of August, selling 1,320 units for a 2.9% share. Down 3 ranks to #6, the Seat Ibiza however reinforces its 2013 lead, with its follower the Opel Corsa down to a meagre #12 this month. Inside the Top 10, notice also the Ford Fiesta up 23 spots on August to #7, the Focus up 12 to #8 and the Toyota Auris solid at #10 vs. #19 year-to-date. Confirming its success in Southern Europe (#6 in Portugal last month), the Renault Captur is up 17 ranks to break into the Spanish Top 20 for the first time at #14, while its archenemy the Peugeot 2008 makes its entrance inside the Top 50 at #50.

Previous month: Spain August 2013: Dacia Sandero leads in market back in hell

One year ago: Spain September 2012: Worst ever recorded month

Full September 2013 Top 200 models and Top 45 All-brands Ranking Tables below.