Spain August 2017: Dacia Sandero tops market at highest since 2007

The Dacia Sandero is the best-selling vehicle in Spain in August. Picture carwow.co.uk

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 285 All-models by clicking on the title *

The Spanish new car market leaps up a significant 12.9% year-on-year in August to 72.888 registrations, the highest result for the month in 10 years, since the 99.639 units sold in 2007. The year-to-date total is now up 6.9% to 854.448, the highest point at this time of the year since 2008 (882.565). Unfortunately, once again this dynamism has more to do with artificial sales. In August, rental sales are up 41% to 3.586 or 4.9% of the market vs. 3.9% a year ago and company sales are up 10.4% to 23.194 and 31.8% share vs. 30.8% in August 2016. In contrast, private sales are up 8.3% to 46.108, seeing their share fall from 66% to 63.3%. Year-to-date, private sales are up just 1.9% and 49.5% share vs. 51.9% a year ago. Compact SUVs, up 32% to 17.371 sales, are once again the most popular segment above compact cars at 15.741 (+6%) and small cars at 15.043 (+7%). Year-to-date compact SUVs, up 35% to 185.067, still trail small cars at 198.507 (+8%) and compact cars at 194.073 (-1%).

The Nissan Qashqai is up 35% to 3rd place. 

Brand-wise, this month Volkswagen jumps two spots on July to snap the pole position in spite of gaining just 7% year-on-year vs. +17% for Renault at #2 and +20% for Toyota up five spots to spectacularly land on the third step of the podium. Peugeot (+12%) is up one rank to #4 while Seat (+18%) is down three to #5 but manages to remain in the year-to-date lead – just – with 7.7% share vs. 7.6% for Volkswagen, 7.5% for Opel down to #6 in August and 7.4% for Renault. Mercedes soars 19% and 5 spots to break into the Top 10 at #10, Land Rover is up 24%, Mazda up 28%, Audi up 29%, Fiat up 30%, BMW up 39% and Smart up 54%. Among smaller brands, Abarth is up 74% and Tesla up 700%.

The Fiat 500 is up 169% to 6th place. 

The Dacia Sandero spectacularly takes the lead of the Spanish models ranking in August with sales up 11% to 2.4% share, only 21 units above the YTD leader the Seat Ibiza up 20% to 2.4% share also. It is the 7th time the Sandero tops the Spanish sales after January, August, December 2013, August, September 2014 and November 2015. The Nissan Qashqai (+35%), VW Golf (+19%) and Renault Clio (+19%) all grab 2.3% of the market, making Spain one of the most fragmented markets in Europe for the month – it could even be the most fragmented, pending Swiss results. The Fiat 500 spends a 2nd consecutive month inside the Spanish Top 10 at #6 thanks to deliveries up a whopping 169% year-on-year.

The Kia Stonic makes its very first appearance in the Spanish sales charts at #135. 

The Toyota Yaris (+24%), Renault Megane (+57%), Peugeot 2008 (+34%), Citroen C3 (+106%) and Seat Ateca (+387%) also shine inside the Top 20. The Toyota C-HR is back up 24 spots on June to lead recent launches (<12 months) at #28, one unit above the Peugeot 3008 II (#29), wit the Ford Ka+ (#42), Peugeot 5008 II (#53) and Audi Q2 (#64) in tow. This month we welcome the Kia Stonic at #135 and the Citroen C3 Aircross at #230.

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

One year ago: Spain August 2016: Hyundai Tucson surges to record 5th place

Full August 2017 Top 45 All-brands and Top 285 All-models below.