Spain July 2017: Renault (+15%) leads in biggest July since 2008

The Mégane (+50%) helps Renault up 15% in July in Spain. Picture autobild.es 

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 290 All-models by clicking on the title *

The Spanish new car market is up 2.4% year-on-year in July to 110.557 registrations, the highest volume for the month since 2008 (121.512), lifting the year-to-date tally up 6.4% to 781.557 units, here too the highest since 2008 (824.015). The bad news is that this growth is for the most part artificial: private sales are down 4.1% to 61.375 units and 55.5% share vs. 59.3% a year ago while company sales are up 14.9% to 33.555 and 30.4% vs. 27.1% in July 2016 and rental sales are up 5.9% to 15.627 and 14.1% share vs. 13.7%. Year-to-date, company sales are up 14.5% to 213.714 and 27.3% share vs. 25.4% last year, rental sales are up 8.8% to 191.370 and 24.5% vs. 23.9% last year while private sales gain a meagre 1.2% to 376.473 and 48.2% share vs. 50.7% last year… Segment-wise, large SUVs are up 46.1% to 4.898 sales, compact SUVs up 28% to 25.341 while small passenger cars are up 1.5% to 24.747 and compact cars down 8% to 24.713. This means compact SUVs have become the most popular vehicle segment in Spain. Year-to-date, small cars are up 8.6% to 183.464, followed by compact cars down 1.4% to 178.332 and compact SUVs up 35.4% to 167.696.

The VW Golf is up 41% to #3 just as Volkswagen gains 20% year-on-year. 

Brand-wise, the Top 3 beat the market: Renault surges 15% year-on-year to 8.4% share, distancing Seat up 10% to 7.7% and Volkswagen up 20% to 7.6%. Year-to-date, Seat (+20%) remains in the lead but the fight for 2nd place is getting a lot tighter with Opel (#2) only separated from Renault (#4) by 1.500 units. Kia (+16%) up 5 spots on its YTD level to #6 and Toyota (+15%) are the only two other carmakers posting a double-digit gain in the Top 10. Outside, Mini (+12%), Hyundai (+14%), Mitsubishi (+16%), Jeep (+22%), Subaru (+26%), Land Rover (+35%) and Abarth (+88%) also shine.

The Stelvio is already Alfa Romeo’s best-seller in Spain. 

Model-wise, the Seat Ibiza (+1%) and Leon (-9%) remain in command as they are year-to-date – albeit in a different order than last year – and this month the VW Golf soars 41% to leap 5 spots on June onto the podium. The Dacia Sandero is up 7 but down 15% year-on-year in 4th pace, the Renault Mégane is up 50% to #6, the Fiat 500 up 44% to #9 and the Opel Mokka up 21% to #11. Further down, the Citroen C3 is up 59% to #16 thanks to the new generation, the VW Tiguan is up 41% to #21, the Seat Ateca is back up two spots to #24 just over one year after its launch, the Peugeot 3008 II is the most popular recent launch (<12 months) at #25 with 1.2% share ahead of the Toyota C-HR (#52), Ford Ka+ (#54), Opel Crossland (#63), Audi Q2 (#65), Peugeot 5008 II (#68) and Kia Niro (#73). At #117, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is already the brand’s best-seller in Spain. Notice also the Range Rover Velar up 80 spots to #141 and now Range Rover’s 2nd best-seller below the Evoque but above the Sport and the Range Rover.

Previous month: Spain June 2017: Seat Ibiza reclaims lead in biggest June in a decade

One year ago: Spain July 2016: Seat Ibiza, Leon and Dacia Sandero dominate

Full July 2017 Top 45 All-brands and Top 290 All-models below.