Europe April 2014: Nissan Qashqai regains traction at +22%

Nissan Qashqai

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New car sales in Europe, defined as the European Union ex-Malta + Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, deliver an 8th consecutive month of year-on-year growth in April, up 4% to 1,129,829 registrations which brings the year-to-date total to 4,483,077, up a solid 7% on 2013.  The VW Golf remains the best-seller on the continent by far, with 49,653 new units finding a buyer, a very sizeable 15% increase on April 2013. The Ford Fiesta does even better in 2nd place: up 21% to 28,421 sales and cementing its year-to-date 2nd spot. In fact, the entire Top 5 models are identical to the year-to-date ranking this month with the Renault Clio, VW Polo and Opel Corsa following.

Skoda Octavia sales are up 45% year-on-year in April across Europe.

Interestingly, the Ford Focus does not drop much vs. March which was boosted by UK sales, losing only one rank to #6 and up a robust 8% year-on-year. Now that the new generation is well established in dealerships across the continent, the Nissan Qashqai regains traction at +21% year-on-year to 19,535 sales in 7th place. Victim of the tremendous success of its SUV derivative the 2008, the Peugeot 208 is down a harsh 19% this month to #8. In contrast, the Audi A3 aptly celebrates one year since its very first European Top 10 ranking (April 2013) by hitting #9 and the Skoda Octavia is up another gargantuan 45% year-on-year to reclaim a spot inside the Top 10.

To be launched later this year, the Renegade should push European Jeep sales further up.

Brand-wise, Volkswagen comfortably keeps the pole position with 12.9% share ahead of Ford (+8%), Renault (+9%), Opel/Vauxhall (+7%) and Peugeot (+6%) all growing faster than the market. The 3 premium German manufacturers follow, all on or above their year-to-date market shares: Audi at 6%, Mercedes at 5.1% and BMW at 5%. Among great year-on-year gainers, let’s salute Jeep (+52%), Dacia (+34%), Land Rover (+30%), Mazda (+29%), Skoda (+22%) and Nissan (+21%).

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Previous month (Top 10): Europe March 2014: Fiat 500 inside Top 10 for the first time

One year ago: Europe April 2013: Audi A3 breaks into Top 10 for the first time!

Full April 2014 Top 10 models and Top 30 brands Ranking Tables below.