Germany December 2013: VW Up inside Top 10 for the first time

First Top 10 ranking for the VW Up at home this month.

* See the Top 300 best-selling models and Top 50 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Germany are up 5% year-on-year in December to 215,320 registrations, bringing the final 2013 total to 2,952,431 units, down 4% on 2012. Brand-wise, Volkswagen is lifted by the success of the Golf (see below), up an impressive 30% on December 2012 to 22.8% share, Opel and Ford are both up 27%, Skoda up 23% and Renault up 19%. For the first time ever, French-Romanian brand Dacia is above the two there major French manufacturers: it ranks #15 with 3,612 sales (+17%), above Peugeot at #16 and 3,535 (-13%) and Citroen at #17 and 2,654 (-15%).

The Skoda Octavia ranks at a highest-ever #5 this month in Germany.

Model-wise, the VW Golf more than doubles its sales year-on-year (+102%) to hit a round 10% market share this month thanks to 21,552 sales. Even though this figure includes sales of Golf Plus and Jetta, these models only account for a tiny portion of its volume, which is higher than any other manufacturer this month, let alone model. This is the first time since February 2010 that the Golf manages to grab 10% of the German new car market.  Volkswagen monopolises the podium for the 2nd month running with the Polo at #2 and the Passat at #3, but the other great performer atop the ranking this month is the Skoda Octavia, lodging its 2nd ever month inside the Top 5 in the nameplate’s 17 years at #5 with 4,251 sales and 2%.

The Hyundai i30 reaches the highest ever monthly ranking by a Korean model this month.

Further down, the VW Up breaks into the German monthly Top 10 for the very first time, up 6 spots on November and 27% year-on-year to #9 with 3,746 sales and 1.7%. Its previous best was #11 hit last January and June. The Hyundai i30 also reaches new heights: up 19 ranks on last month and 8% on December 2012 to #12 with 3,406 units and 1.6% which is the nameplate’s highest ever ranking in the country, beating the #13 it hit in cash-for-clunkers-crazy February 2009. This is also the highest monthly ranking ever reached by a Korean model in Germany.

Previous month: Germany November 2013: VW Golf hits highest share in 4 years

One year ago: Germany December 2012: BMW 1 Series up to best-ever #2!

Full December 2013 Top 300 models and Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.