Sweden February-March 2017: Volvo S/V90 takes control

With the Cross Country variants, the Volvo S/V90 has now taken control of its home market. 

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 265 All-models by clicking on the title *

We update two months at once in Sweden today. February is up 3.2% year-on-year to 27.735 registrations, the second highest February score on record below February 1970 which was boosted by in impending VAT hike. Market leaders Volvo (+6%), Volkswagen (+7%), BMW (+10%) and Toyota (-5%) all outpace the overall growth, resulting in increased market shares. Further down, Citroen (+46%), Suzuki (+50%), Mini (+82%), Tesla (+103%) and Mitsubishi (+143%) all post spectacular gains.

March 2017 is the highest score for the month in the history of automobile in Sweden at 38.387 units, up 10.6% on March 2016 and the 39th consecutive month of year-on-year gains. The net increase is much lower though as this month has benefited from two additional selling days which translate in a 10% increase already. Year-to-date after three month, the Swedish new car market is now up 7.4% to 89.404 registrations. Once again the market leaders outpace the overall growth with Volvo up 17%, Volkswagen up 13% and Toyota up 21%. Notice also Mazda up 23%, Ford up 24%, Citroen up 42%, Porsche up 55%, Tesla up 81%, Jeep up 82% and Alfa Romeo up 310%.

But the big event in Sweden across these two months is the surge in sales of the Volvo S/V90 combination, now that the Cross Country variants are available. These were the missing link that allowed the VW Golf to become the first non-Volvo nameplate in 54 years to lead the annual Swedish sales charts last year all the while the Volvo V70, leader for the previous 19 years (1997–2015), was being discontinued and the S/V90 was only gearing up with no 4WD variants. In February, the S/V90 sells an explosive 1.909 units for a 6.9% market share vs. 1.546 for the Volvo XC60, 1.374 for the VW Golf and 1.343 for the Volvo S/V60. In March, the S/V90 confirm it is the new market favourite at home with 2.416 sales vs. 2.024 for the VW Golf, 1.999 for the Volvo XC60 and 1.921 for the Volvo S/V60. Year-to-date, the S/V90 dominates at 6.4% share vs. 5.4% for the VW Golf (+10%), 5.3% for the Volvo XC60 (+88%) and 5% for the Volvo S/V60 (+47%)

Other models news include the VW Tiguan up 241% in February and up 148% in March, the BMW 5 Series up 96% to #6 in February and 69% to #10 in March and the Toyota C-HR up 56 ranks on January to a splendid 14th place but down 11 in March to #25. The Kia Niro (#31 then #56) and Audi Q2 (#70 then #71) are the next best-sellers as far as recent launches are concerned, with the Skoda Kodiaq breaking into the Top 100 for the first time in March at #90. Whereas there were no newcomers in February, we welcome the Ford Ecosport (#148) and Renault Scenic (#173) in the Swedish sales charts in March.

Previous post: Sweden January 2017: Volvo S/V90 now has VW Golf in sight

One year ago: Sweden March 2016: Hyundai i30 breaks into Top 10 in market up 10%

Full February and March 2017 Top 45 All-brands and Top 265 All-models below.