Spain Full Year 2013: Seat Ibiza marks 10 years in the lead

The Seat Ibiza tops the Spanish annual sales charts for the 10th time this year.

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After crumbling down 57% between 2007 and 2012 to reach its lowest level since 1986, 2013 could mark a turnaround for the Spanish car market, up a timid 3% to 723,936 units but nevertheless the biggest year-on-year gain since 2004. Plus the last few months of the year showed very vigorous growth: +29% in September, +35% in October, +15% in November and +18% in December, which bodes well for 2014. Brand-wise, Volkswagen keeps its crown, up 2% to 8.8% share, Seat is back up one spot to #2 and 8.2%, passing Peugeot (7.9%) while Opel is up 10% to #4. Dacia delivers the biggest gain in the Top 30 at +47%, followed by Fiat (+27%), Mazda (+26%) and Kia (+20%).

The Seat Ibiza first topped Spanish sales in 1987.

This year and for the first time ever on BSCB, I give you an all-models ranking for Spain! The Seat Ibiza celebrates its 5th consecutive year and 10th year overall atop the Spanish sales charts, the first time being in 1987. At 23,512 sales and 3.2% share, it is however down 3% on 2012 and delivers its weakest annual tally ever. Needless to say this is the smallest volume enabling a model to rank #1 in Spain in almost 50 years! The Ibiza topped the monthly ranking only twice this year (vs. 4 times in 2012): in April and July, and is the only model to hold over 3% market share in a Spanish market reaching its highest fragmentation ever.

Renault Clio sales are up 53% in 2013 in Spain.

Higher fragmentation means higher volatility and no less than 7 models held the monthly top spot this year – a record, 4 of them doing so for the first time ever! The Nissan Qashqai remains the 2nd best-selling model in the country but drops 9% to 20,372 units and 2.9%, topping the charts once (November) vs. 4 times in 2012. The VW Polo climbs onto the year-end podium thanks to sales up 17% to 20,284 and ranked #1 for the first time in February. The Opel Corsa also potentially led the market for the first time in March, and repeated this feat in May and June to finish the year up 19% to #4 and 20,090 units. But the most spectacular progression in the Top 5 is delivered by the Renault Clio, boosted by the new model and up 53% on 2012 to 19,958 sales. It ranked first in October for only the third time in 20 years after October 2012.

The Dacia Sandero topped the Spanish monthly ranking 3 times this year!

Excellent hold of the Seat Leon up 18% to #6, while the VW Golf – #1 for the first time in September – is down 3 spots to #7 in spite of sales up 8% and the Peugeot 208 up 66% to #8 for its first full year in market – frankly below 207 levels. Finally, the most unexpected monthly leader but also the most prolific this year with the Opel Corsa is the Dacia Sandero, #1 for the first time in January, but also in August and December! Widely varying monthly results mean it is ‘only’ #10 over the full year, up 8 spots and 58% on 2012. Notice also the Toyota Auris up 19% to #15 but breaking into the Top 5 in December, Nissan Juke up 10 ranks to #20, Kia Cee’d up 59% to #30, Mercedes A-Class up 177% to #33 and the Toyota Verso up 51% to #40.

The most successful all-new model of 2013 is the Renault Captur at #46, and the analysis continues below.

Previous post: Spain December 2013: Dacia Sandero leads for third time this year

Previous year: Spain 2012: Seat Ibiza and Nissan Qashqai resist in worst year since the eighties

Two years ago: Spain 2011: Seat Ibiza #1 for the 8th time in lowest market in 18 years

More analysis, Full Year 2013 Top 350 All-models and Top 60 All-brands Ranking Tables below.