Europe September 2016: Mercedes overtakes Audi YTD to #1 premium

Mercedes now outsells Audi YTD and the C-Class snaps its very first Top 10 ranking.

* See the Top 10 best-selling brands and Top 20 models by clicking on the title *

The European new car market posts its best September score in a decade, up 7.1% to 1.495.815 deliveries across 29 countries. Year-to-date, sales are up 7.7% to 11.609.595 units, the highest level after 9 months since 2008. 16 markets record double-digit gains and just 3 post declines (Greece, the Netherlands and Ireland). The best performing markets are Romania (+63%), Hungary (+31%), Latvia (+29%), Cyprus (+21%), Poland (+20%), Slovakia (+19%) and Italy (+17%). Keep in mind September is always heavily weighted towards the UK market at an all-time high 469.696 or 31% of the entire European market. According to JATO Dynamics, SUV sales cross the 400.000 monthly units-barrier for the first time in history, boasting a 26.9% market share vs. 23.3% a year ago.

The VW Tiguan spends a 2nd consecutive month (and ever) inside the European Top 10.

In the brands ranking, market leaders Volkswagen (+3.5%), Ford (-1%) and Opel (+4.2%) are all losing market share compared to September 2015. Reversely, Renault surges 19.4% to 97.147 sales thanks to strong Mégane and Kadjar deliveries but drops to #3 year-to-date below Opel. The best performance of the month is without any doubt delivered by Mercedes up 17.8% to 91.572 units, frankly outpacing rival premium manufacturers BMW (+11.3%) and Audi (+8.7%). The big news is Mercedes overtaking Audi year-to-date to snap the premium crown at 638.968 sales (+14.5%) vs. 638.639 (+8.2%). This is the first time since 2010 that Audi isn’t the #1 premium brand YTD in Europe. In the Top 10, Fiat (+10.3%) and Skoda (+9.9%) outpace the market.

Audi drops to #3 premium brand despite A3 sales up 18% and A4 units up 34%. 

The VW Golf remains the best-selling models across the continent despite a harsh 15% drop on the back of double-digit declines in Germany, the UK and France, the three largest European markets. Lifted by the UK, the Ford Fiesta is up one spot on August to #2 but down 7% year-on-year above the VW Polo up 11% and now #2 year-to-date, outpacing the Renault Clio (+7%). After breaking inside the European Top 10 for the first time ever in August, the VW Tiguan makes it two consecutive months at #9 thanks to deliveries boosted up 47% year-on-year by the new generation. It however drops to #2 SUV below the Nissan Qashqai (#6). It’s the turn of the Mercedes C-Class to snap its very first Top 10 European ranking at #10 (+12%), riding on the new Coupe variant. This month 41% of C-Class were sold in the UK where it ranks #10 and 32% in Germany where it ranks #4.

Previous month: Europe August 2016: VW Tiguan breaks into Top 10 for the first time

One year ago: Europe September 2015: Nissan Qashqai shines in UK-led month

Full September 2016 Top 10 brands and Top 20 models below.