Switzerland Full Year 2015: VAG Group dominant, Mercedes up to #3

Mercedes C-Class sales are up 72% in Switzerland this year.

* See the Top 55 All-brands and Top 418 All-models by clicking on the title *

* Check out 45 years worth of Swiss Archived Data here *

After two consecutive years of decline, the Swiss new car market shows encouraging gains in 2015 at +7% to 323.783 registrations, the strongest annual score since 2012. Volkswagen remains the default choice for Swiss car buyers, albeit improving slower than the market at +5% resulting in a reduced 13% share. BMW (+14%) is a strong second but Mercedes is catching up fast at +24%, overtaking Audi (+6%) and Skoda (+7%). Other impressive manufacturers in 2015 include Renault (+26%), Mazda (+32%), Porsche (+36%), Smart (+103%) and Tesla (+214%) making its entrance inside the Top 30 brands in Switzerland.

No one is contesting the VW Golf’s supremacy. 

In the models charts, the VW Golf is the best-selling car in Switzerland for the 22nd consecutive year despite losing market share at 4.7% with sales up just 6% to 15.288 units, the nameplate’s largest annual volume in Switzerland in 14 years – since the 16.704 units it sold in 2001. The Skoda Octavia is discreetly catching up in 2nd place with deliveries up 13% to 12.228 above the VW Polo (+23%) and Audi A3 (+10%) completing a Top 4 unchanged on 2014. Switzerland remains the most fragmented car market in the world with only three nameplates securing at least 2% market share vs. two in 2014. The Seat Leon (+22%) and VW Passat (+57%) make the Top six best-sellers 100% Volkswagen Group.

The BMW 2 Series ends 2015 inside the Swiss Top 10.

The most spectacular improvement atop the Swiss charts is the BMW 2 Series shooting up 354% and 96 spots on 2014 to land inside the Top 10 thanks to its Active/Gran Tourer MPV variants. Notice also the Mercedes C-Class up 72% to #7, the Seat Alhambra up 35% to #14 and Mazda2 up 92%. The Suzuki Vitara is the best-selling all-new model for 2015 at #55 and 1.881 sales, followed by the Fiat 500X at #67, Hyundai Tucson at #78, Mazda CX-3 at #85 and VW T6 at #102. In fact 9 of the 10 most popular all-new entrants are SUVs: add the Renault Kadjar, Mercedes GLC, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Subaru Levorg and Mercedes GLE.

Previous month: Switzerland November 2015: Volkswagen Group monopolises Top 6

Previous year: Switzerland Full Year 2014: VW Golf and Skoda Octavia ultra dominant

Two years ago: Switzerland Full Year 2013: VW Golf celebrates 20 years at #1

Full Year 2015 Top 55 All-brands and Top 418 All-models vs. Full Year 2014 figures below.

Full December 2015 Top 30 brands and Top 100 models below.