Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Perodua holds just under 30% of its home market in 2014.

* See the Top 50 All-brands ranking by clicking on the title *

The Malaysian new car market is up 1.6% year-on-year to lodge a third consecutive record year at 666,465 registrations. By segment, while passenger cars improve 2.4% on 2013, MPV sales decline by 0.7% but SUV sales are up 8.1%. Perodua remains the most popular manufacturer at home for the 9th consecutive year, never failing to grab the top spot after it first overtook the other local manufacturer Proton in 2005. It sales however dipped by a minuscule 0.3% on a record 2013 figure to 195,579 sales and might have broken another record were it be not handicapped by severe flooding on the East Coast causing a major disruption to retail businesses. Nevertheless Perodua predicts it will become the first Malaysian manufacturer to sell over 200,000 annual units in 2015, aiming at growing by 6.5% to 208,000 sales.

Honda City (Thai model shown)

Perodua’s pole position was helped by the continued success of the MyVi, the best-seller in Malaysia for the 9th year in a row, and the launch of the new Axia replacing the Viva as the company’s cheapest model,  receiving a whopping 45,000 orders by the end of the year. Proton is down a harsh 17% on 2013 to #2 and 115,783 sales and 17.8% share vs. 21.2% a year ago, not helped by the all-new Iriz whose production has not reached its maximum yet, meaning the number of units delivered was not substantial this year even though orders were here. Proton was even outsold by Toyota for the first time ever over the past two months of the year. Toyota (+12%) and Honda (+50%) deliver stunning results, the latter helped by the success of the new City, a hit from the day it was launched.

The Perodua Myvi is the best-selling model in Malaysia in 2014.

Mitsubishi (+16%), Ford (+31%), Mazda (+24%), Kia (+38%), Mercedes (+28%) and Subaru (+52%) also deliver great results in the Top 25. Once again, due to the Malaysian Competition Commissioner’s belief that publication of the sales volumes of individual models will result in prices going up as traders ‘exploit’ such information, a models ranking is unavailable for Malaysia. Such transparency, which readers, consumers and myself would like to see, is considered an offence under the Malaysian Competition Act.

Evolution of Proton-Perodua market share 2001-2014

Previous month: Malaysia November 2014: Toyota overtakes Proton for the first time

One year ago: Malaysia Full Year 2013: Perodua tops, Nissan and Honda jump

Two years ago: Malaysia Full Year 2012: Record year, now with models ranking

Full Year 2014 Top 50 All-brands ranking vs. Full 2013 figures below.

Full December 2014 Top 45 All-brands ranking below.

Toyota is the most popular carmaker in Ukraine in 2014

Impacted full-frontal by the Crimea crisis, Ukrainian new car sales plunge 54% year-on-year in 2014 to just 97,020 registrations. In a turbulent year, the brands ranking is turned on its head, with the Top 4 most popular in reverse order compared to 2013. Toyota is the main beneficiary in 2014, up 3 spots to top all brands sold in Ukraine thanks to sales down ‘just’ 33% to 10,296 for a 10.6% market share vs. 7.2% a year ago. Chinese manufacturer Geely is going from strength to strength in Ukraine, up to a fantastic (and world-best) 2nd place overall in 2014 with 9,365 units sold and 9.7% share vs. 7.7% in 2013. Local carmaker ZAZ (-55%) rounds up the podium above Hyundai (-69%), Volkswagen (-58%) and Renault (-54%).

A handful of other marques frankly outperform the market ithis year, led by Mazda (-7%), Daewoo (-22%), Subaru (-22%), Suzuki (-24%), Audi (-35%) and BMW (-37%). Reversely, others fall flat: Fiat (-64%), Chevrolet (-68%), BYD (-68%), Kia (-71%), Lada (-72%) and Opel (-84%). In addition to Geely, there are 7 Chinese manufacturers inside Ukraine’s Top 40 this year: Chery (#26), Great Wall (#30), BYD (#31), MG (#32), JAC (#33), Lifan (#38), and FAW (#40). Notice also Iranians Saipa at #44 and Iran-Khodro at #53.

* See the Top 60 All-models ranking by clicking on the title *

Full Year 2014 Top 60 All-models vs. 2013 figures below.

All-models data will be added shortly.

Emperor of China: the Wuling Hongguang clocked up a record 750,000 sales in 2014.

* See the Top 402 locally produced models, Top 10 LCVs and Top 66 brands *

One of the main news items in the 2014 automotive world is the cooling down of the Chinese new vehicle market’s growth. I’m stressing the word growth here, because a lot of analysts have dramatised this trend to such an extent over the past 12 months that they make it look like the entire Chinese market is cooling down. Not so, only its growth is – a very big difference, dropping by half from +14% in 2013 to +6.9% in 2014 according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. This means an additional 1.5 million new vehicles were sold in China in 2014 compared to 2013 – a little less than the entire French new car market, lifting the all-time record for any country in the world to 23.49 million units.

An analysis by segment clearly shows the engines of growth in China in 2014. Microvans are down harsh 17% to 1.33 million units as Chinese consumers upgrade to larger MPVs for commercial use, and trucks are down 9% to 3.18 million sales, bringing commercial vehicle sales down 7% to 3.79 million units. If Passenger Cars are up a robust 9.89% year-on-year to 19.7 million units (vs. +15.7% in 2013), sedans are only up 3% to 12.38 million units. The only two segments pulling the entire Chinese market up in 2014 are MPVs up a spectacular 47% to 1.91 million sales and SUVs up an equally impressive 36% to cross both the 3 million and 4 million annual sales benchmark for the first time at 4.08 million units. Worryingly for local manufacturers though, the share of domestic brands continued to drop, now at 38.44% of annual sales, down 2.1 percentage points from a year earlier due to the weakness of the truck market where Chinese manufacturers have an almost monopoly on sales at home.

The Haval H6 is the first SUV to break the 300,000 annual sale-milestone in China.

Yes, it’s a cooled down growth rate, but let’s not forget the Chinese market only grew by 4% in 2012 on the back of Japan-China tensions and stricter licence plate allocation in first tier cities. Aptly, far from slowing its growth further in 2014, the CAAM predicts another year at +7% in 2015, bringing the overall market above 25 million units for the first time. Of this, 21.3m units will be light vehicles, up 8% on 2014 and once again pulled up by SUVs (+25% to 5.1m) and MPVs (+35% to 2.6m) while sedans (+1% to 12.5m) and microvans (-20% to 1.1m) will underperform again. Thanks to rising household incomes, vehicle buyers will continue to migrate from sedans and microvans to larger and more expensive vehicles such as SUVs and MPVs. Geographically, customers in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities are now buying their second vehicles, while those in smaller Tier 3 and Tier 4 are still buying their first vehicles, so there is still a very large potential for growth and, increasingly, renewal. A much more detailed forecast of the Chinese market will be published on BSCB shortly.

Hyundai is the #3 brand in China, partly thanks to the success of the new Mistra (pictured above).

Keeping in mind that for now only detailed sales of locally produced vehicles are available, Volkswagen remains the most popular brand in this market by far with almost double the sales of the next most popular marque at 2.71 million units, outsmarting the market at +13% year-on-year. Thanks to the enormous success of its microvans and MPVs, local brand Wuling takes the 2nd spot with 1.4 million units, followed by Hyundai up 9% to 1.12 million. ChangAn is the second local brand inside the Top 4, here again thanks to successful microvans with sales just under the annual million units. Toyota (+11%), Buick (+14%) and Nissan (+2%) follow, with Ford, Honda and Chevrolet rounding up the Top 10.

BAIC Senova D50 – BAIC is among China’s Top 20 brands.

SUV-only brand Haval is up a stunning 53% to 429,328 units, Peugeot up 41% to 384,005, Audi up 25%, BMW up 34%, Baojun up 81%, Zotye up 62% and Fiat up 41%. Notice also the arrival of BAIC inside the Top 20, Great Wall down 47%, Brilliance down 27%, GAC Trumpchi up 36% and new SUV brand BAIC Huansu landing at #37. At 26,008 units, PSA’s premium brand DS finishes its first full year in market inside the Top 50 locally-produced brands.

GAC Trumpchi sales are up 37% year-on-year.

Stepping into the models ranking in China, there are 3 standout stars in 2014 and they are all Chinese. Firstly the Wuling Hongguang spends a 2nd consecutive month in pole position and improves its annual sales figure by an outstanding 67% on 2013 to 750,019, an all-time record for any passenger car ever on sale in the country, arguably mainly used as a commercial vehicle though. Seconly, after eclipsing 200,000 sales for its first full year of sales in 2013, the Haval H6 becomes the first SUV to cross the 300,000 annual unit-mark with 315,881 sales, up 45% year-on-year. The H6 spent almost all year breaking its monthly sales volume record (it did so 8 times in 2014 alone!) and is symbolic of the explosive growth the SUV segment is currently enjoying in China.

The Baojun 730 is the fastest-ever nameplate to hit 30,000 monthly sales in China.

Symbolic of the even more impressive growth of MPV sales, in a matter of months the Baojun 730 has become the most successful launch in the history of automobile in China, hitting 12,006 sales in its first month, 21,016 sales for its 2nd month in market and 30,089 for its 4th month, making it the fastest-ever nameplate to reach both the 20,000 and 30,000 monthly sales mark. It is of course #1 new nameplate for the year at #43 with 120,089 sales and could pretend at a podium ranking over the Full Year 2015.

The VW Lavida is the best-selling sedan in China for the 2nd year running.

Back to the top of the ranking to notice the VW Lavida (+12%) and Ford Focus (-3%) maintaining their respective Top 2 sedans spots, the VW Sagitar and Nissan Sylphy both edging past 300,000 annual sales in the last hours of the year, making it 6 nameplates above that threshold vs. none in 2012. The VW Jetta (+13%) comes very close to also reaching that milestone, while the Buick Excelle (-1%) is the only nameplate in the Top 10 to lose ground year-on-year. The VW Santana (+58%) enjoys the benefits of its first relaunch in 30 years, the VW Golf (+90%) makes it 9 VW models inside the Top 20, the Kia K3 is up 30% to #20, Honda Crider up 72% to spend its first full year at #26, Ford Kuga up 42% to #33, the Hyundai Mistra exceeds Hyundai’s expectations at 135,000 sales (vs. a goal of 120,000), the Toyota Vios benefits from the launch of the new model to multiply its sales by 4.5 to #36 and the Citroen C-Elysée is up 75% to #37.

Geely Emgrand EC7

Below the ultra-dominant Wuling Hongguang and Haval H6, the Geely Emgrand EC7 keeps its title of best-selling Chinese sedan at #24 overall despite sales down 14% and an assault from the ChangAn Eado, up 71% to #28. The Chana Honor MPV is up 51% to #32, the Dongfeng Future up 14% to #39, Dongfeng Joyear up 65% to #44 and BYD F3 back up 33% to #47. Further down, notice the Chery Tiggo 3 up 37% to #51, Tiggo 5 up to #58 for its first full year in market and the Dongfeng Fengguang MPV up 181% to #63.

The JAC Refine S3 topped all foreign SUVs in November.

64 new nameplates were spat out of local factories this year vs. 16 models discontinued for a net increase of 48 models ranked, bringing the total to 402. As a comparison, the net increase in both Europe and the USA is between zero and 5. Out of the 64 newcomers, 30 were SUVs, 38 were Chinese, and 19 were Chinese SUVs. The Baojun 730 is the only all-new nameplate in the Top 100, with the 2nd most popular nbeing the ChangAn CS75 SUV at #109 followed by the JAC Refine S3 at #115, Haval H2 at #116, Toyota Levin at #117, BAIC Huansu S3 at #119, Peugeot 2008 at #128, Chevrolet Trax at #130, BAIC Senova D50 at #134 and the Mazda3 Axela at #136.

The Wuling Rongguang is the best-selling LCV in China in 2014.

The Wuling Rongguang takes the lead of the LCV models ranking with sales up 2% to 345,102, while the Wuling Sunshine is down 32%, the Chana Mini Bus down 14% and the Foton Light Truck down 25%. The Wuling Mini Truck delivers the best performance in the Top 10 with sales up 25% to 219,466 units in 5th place, and we welcome the JMC Light Truck and Jinbei Light Bus inside the Top 10.

Previous post: China December 2014: Focus on the all-new models

One year ago (PC): China Full Year 2013: Wuling Hongguang and VW Lavida on top

One year ago (LCV): China Full Year 2013: Discover the Top 10 best-selling LCVs

Two years ago: China Full Year 2012: Ford Focus triumphs

Full Year 2014 Top 402 All-local models, Top 10 LCVs & Top 66 brands vs. Full 2013 figures below.

Toyota nailed 40% of the Filipino market twice in 2014.

* See the Top 25 best-selling brands by clicking on the title *

One year after breaking the 200,000 annual registration-barrier for the first time in history, new car sales in the Philippines are up another bumper 27% to lift its all-time record to 269,841 sales. Toyota tightens its stranglehold on the market even further, up 41% to a record 105,635 sales and 39.1% share, becoming the first manufacturer to sell above 100,000 units in a single year in the Philippines. Toyota also became the first manufacturer to sell more than 10,000 monthly units in July. Mitsubishi remains at a world-best #2 but sees its market share slide to 18.6% vs. 20.3% in 2013 due to sales up ‘just’ 16%. Hyundai rounds up the podium, while Ford (+53%) and Isuzu (+20%) both overtake Honda, stable.

Previous post: Philippines September 2014: Toyota Wigo and Mitsubishi Mirage G4 up

One year ago: Philippines Full Year 2013: Toyota and Mitsubishi top record market

Two years ago: Philippines Full Year 2012: Toyota leads, Mitsubishi at world best

Full Year 2014 Top 25 brands vs. Full 2013 figures below.

Models data will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Toyota sold 10 million vehicle worldwide for the first time this year.

Toyota keeps worldwide crown

Toyota Motor Corp. remained the the world’s biggest automaker in 2014 with sales up 3% to break the 10 million vehicles mark for the first time in the carmaker’s history at 10.23 million units, including its Daihatsu minicar subsidiary and Hino truckmaking affiliate. This was just enough to keep the worldwide pole position ahead of German rival Volkswagen Group, up 3% to 10.15 million sales and also above 10 million annual vehicles for the first time in its history. This is also the first time any carmaker sells more than 10 million vehicles in a single year, and a third automaker nearly crossed that symbolic barrier this year: in third position like in 2013, General Motors Co. saw its volume rise 2% to 9.92 million vehicles.

The new Passat will keep Volkswagen sales strong in Europe in 2015.

Toyota Motor Corp. thus keeps the lead for the third consecutive year after losing its crown in 2011 due to production constraints linked with the Asian natural disasters that year. General Motors previously held the worldwide pole position from 1931 to 2007, with Toyota taking over from 2008-2010. But Toyota’s lead may be at an end in 2015, with the Japanese giant forecasting sales to drop 1% to 10.15 million on the back of slowing demand in Japan and emerging markets. This should be sufficient for Volkswagen Group become the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer by the time 2015 comes to an end.

General Motors stopped just short off selling 10 million vehicles worldwide in 2014.

The Volkswagen Group performance is all the more impressive when considering CEO Martin Winterkorn had been pursuing growth as part of a plan for the German automaker to become the world’s largest automaker by 2018, aiming at worldwide sales of 10 million units by then. VW is 4 full years ahead of schedule, such a rare performance in the chest-beating world of automobile.

World Full Year 2014 – manufacturers:

BMW has now been the world’s most popular luxury brand for 10 years in a row.

BMW still luxury leader in record year

In the luxury sales race, BMW outsold both Audi and Mercedes-Benz in December to round off a 10th year as global luxury car-sales champion but its two German rivals have reduced its advantage. Deliveries by BMW’s core brand jumped 10% on 2013 to a record 1.81 million units, helped by strong demand in China and the United States. BMW group sales including BMW, Rolls-Royce and Mini vehicles rose 8% to 2.11 million vehicles. Audi improved even faster with worldwide sales up 11% to 1.74 million cars, while Mercedes brand sales increased by yet another more dynamic 13% to 1.65 million units, with Daimler sales (including Smart) up 11% to 1.74 million cars.

Audi Prologue Concept

Some analysts said Analysts said BMW, Audi and Mercedes may keep growing sales further this year but pointed to signs of slowing momentum in North America and China. I disagree. These 3 carmakers are among the most prolific in terms of new product launches and some new or redesigned high sellers will keep the momentum going for all of them: the C-Class will reach cruise level, the A4 will be renewed and the 2 Series Active Tourer will be a hit in Europe.

VW Gol Trend

* UPDATED See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 165 models by clicking on the title *

In 2014, the devaluation of the local currency, rampant inflation and increased taxation supposedly aimed at protecting local production have all combined to incur a 50% surge of the average price of new cars in Argentina (but up to +110% for luxury models), in turn pulling new car sales down 29% to 673,695 registrations. A further tax change for the more up-market models in place from January 2015 means some cars see their price double after tax, and this will certainly not help future sales. Even though the tax increases were originally aimed at high-end vehicles to protect local production – mainly focused on low-end models – against imports, the tax brackets are anything but progressive, meaning large price gaps were artificially created between taxed and non-taxed vehicles, and cheaper cars have seen their price skyrocket to fill these gaps even though they weren’t affected by the tax. This way a Renault Logan can now reach the equivalent of US$23.000.

The graph on the left shows the year-on-year price evolution of the 10 best-selling models in Argentina in December, displaying 50% increases or more even though these models were not affected by the tax increase – an extremely rare situation for any car market in the world. To this situation needs to be added the fact that some locally-produced models (Citroen C4 Lounge, Renault Fluence, Ford Focus, Toyota SW4) are now affected by the higher tax brackets, which has prompted Mercedes to not commercialise in Argentina the Vito it will start assembling locally this year – dedicating it to export markets. According to Ernesto Cavicchioli, vice president of Hyundai Motor Argentina, the new tax changes will mean that “At best many models that are now offered at 240,000 pesos (the new tax-threshold) will see their price increase without having to pay the tax and models that are below them also have more room to go up. The only better alternative if you can not repeal the law is to modify the rates and make them more progressive. In late 2014, more than half of the range of models on the market is missing or endangered. We have an abnormal market that harms all auto consumers of Argentina.” More info (in Spanish) on this hot mess here.

Given the number of factors affecting the Argentinean market this year, it was difficult to expect a quiet year of sales, and agitated it has been. Brand-wise, if Volkswagen holds onto the pole position with 16.6% share by evolving like the market (-28%), the rest of the Top 5 is entirely reshuffled: Ford (-20%) dislodges Renault (-40%) from the 2nd spot, and Fiat (-18%) gains one rank to #4, knocking Chevrolet (-40%) off the podium in the process. Toyota brilliantly gains 21% thanks to the Etios (up 504% to integrate the Top 10 in 2014) but remains in 7th place, while Mercedes (-35%) is the least affected by the luxury tax increase: Audi (-84%) and BMW (-85%) both disintegrate.

The Toyota Hilux is up to a best-ever #2 ranking in Argentina in 2014.

After 4 consecutive years in the top spot, the Chevrolet Classic bows in 2014, dropping 31% to #5. The VW Gol Trend (current generation) takes the relay despite sales down 3% to 29,667 and 4.4% share. The 2014 tax changes advantaged pick-up trucks and Toyota Hilux sales are a clear illustration of this bias: up 1% and 5 spots on 2013 to #2 with 27,635 units and 4% share vs. 2.9% last year. The Renault Clio Mio is down 19% but stays third while the Ford Fiesta Kinetic (+34%),  Fiat Palio (+29% and #1 in May and June) and the Peugeot 208 (+55%) are the other stars of the Top 10 in a year that saw 6 different model leaders. The Toyota Etios is #10 for its first full year of sales and the Ford Focus III lands at #12 vs. #25 in 2013 for the previous generation.

Previous post: Argentina November 2014: Ford Ecosport back on podium

Previous year: Argentina Full Year 2013: Chevrolet Classic #1, Renault Clio Mio #3 in record year

Two years ago: Argentina Full Year 2012: Chevrolet Classic #1, Renault Duster up

Full Year 2014 Top 40 All-brands and Top 165 models below.

Full December 2014 Top 30 All-brands and Top 50 models below.

The Toyota Corolla leads the Puerto Rican sales charts for the 2nd straight year.

* See the Top 30 All-carmakers and Top 245 All-models by clicking on the title *

Not a good year for new light vehicle sales in Puerto Rico: down a harsh 12% year-on-year to just 90,338 registrations. Being an unincorporated state of the United States, Puerto Rican car sales are not accounted for in the monthly and annual US updates. The particularity of this market is the weakness of American carmakers and the strength of Asian manufacturers. Case in point: Toyota keeps the lead of the brands ranking, even improving its market share to a huge 26.7% thanks to sales down ‘just’ 6% to 24,093 units. Nissan (-15%), Hyundai (-13%) and Kia (-18%) follow while the #1 US carmaker, Chrysler, ranks 5th with 9.2% share. Mitsubishi (+6%) and Mazda (+17%) are the only two manufacturers in the Top 10 to increase their sales vs. 2013.

Mitsubishi Mirage

The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling nameplate here for the 2nd year running, jumping to 9.4% market share thanks to sales up 1% to 8,490. In 2nd place, the Toyota Yaris does even better, up 7% to 6.9% but the best performer on the podium (and in the Top 40) is the Mitsubishi Mirage, up 120% to #3 and 4.9% share for its first full year in market. The Jeep Wrangler consolidates its position as best-selling Yankee, up 11% to #7 and one of only 3 US nameplates in the Top 20 alongside the Ford Fiesta (#16) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (#17). Other great performers include the Nissan Rogue (+67%) and Toyota Highlander (+80%).

Previous year: Puerto Rico (USA) Full Year 2013: Toyota Corolla takes the lead

Two years ago: Puerto Rico Full Year 2012: Toyota Yaris and Corolla on top

Full Year 2014 Top 30 All-carmakers and Top 245 All-models vs. Full 2013 figures below.

First annual Top 10 ranking in Europe for the Skoda Octavia…

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

Finally! After 7 consecutive years of decline, new car sales in Europe are back into positive territory in 2014 at +5% to 12.995.397 registrations, topping off a full 12 months of year-on-year gains. The Top 5 largest markets are all up year-on-year: Germany (+3%), UK (+9%), France (+0.3%), Italy (+4%) and Spain (+20%) and 24 out of 29 markets are in positive. We are still far from the heydays of 16-17 million sales but at least the market has bottomed out and looks set to continue to increase, albeit discreetly, in 2015. The world has changed since the last time the European new car market was growing: with a predicted 25 million units in 2015, the Chinese will soon weight twice that of Europe… Read also my 2013 analysis STRATEGY: Europe: Will the new car market ever grow again?

…and also for the Audi A3.

All Top 10 manufacturers progress year-on-year, with Volkswagen leading the pack by far at 1.61 million sales (+4%) followed by Ford at 0.96 million (+4%). Opel/Vauxhall, now rid of Chevrolet, improves by 7% while the Top 2 French manufacturers, Renault (+9%) and Peugeot (+6%), both outperform the market. The three premium Germans slow down their growth to all evolve roughly like the market and keep their position: Audi is up 4%, BMW up 5% and Mercedes up 6%. Citroen (+1%) and Fiat (+2%) underperform and were both outsold by Skoda (#11 at +13%) during the last months of the year. One of the two, more likely Citroen as Fiat will benefit from the arrival of the 500X, will disappear from Europe’s Top 10 in 2015.

The VW Golf extends a stretch of 57 consecutive months at #1 in Europe.

In the models ranking, the VW Golf is crowned for the 7th consecutive year and the 27th time in the past 32 years starting in 1983 with sales up 11% to 520,958 – its best annual tally since 2009. The Golf was never outsold this year, extending a stretch of 57 consecutive months in the European pole position: the last time it did not rank #1 in Europe is March 2010. The Golf has now held the #1 spot during 85 out of the past 100 months, and managed to double the sales of the #2 model for the first time ever in August. The Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, VW Polo and Opel Corsa follow, all holding onto their 2013 ranking and all growing exactly like the market at +5%. The Ford Focus at #6 and Peugeot 208 at #7 are the only two nameplates in the Top 10 to lose ground vs. 2013.

The Renault Captur broke into the monthly Top 10 for the first time in June.

In sync with their record rankings in Germany this year, both the Skoda Octavia (#8) and Audi A3 (#10) lodge their first-ever annual European Top 10 ranking in 2014. Both nameplates are now regulars in the monthly Top 10 and these achievements are the fruit of a steady sales progression throughout the years. The Skoda Octavia finishes the year up 22% to 206,362 units, ranking inside the monthly Top 10 nine times out of 12, and even though it didn’t beat its #5 monthly ranking record from October-November 2013, it did rank #6 five times this year. A testimony to the Octavia’s new generation sales surge over the past couple of years: it ranked inside the monthly European Top 10 only once between 1996 and 2012, 4 times in 2013 and 9 times in 2014.

…as did the Fiat 500 in March.

The Audi A3 is following a very similar trajectory: not a single Top 10 ranking between 1996 and 2012, 3 times in 2013 and 9 times in 2014, peaking at a best-ever #6 in May (also reached in August 2013) and ranking #8 for four consecutive months between August and November. The A3 finishes the year up 19% to 200,157 units at #10 overall. The Octavia and A3 replace the Opel Astra and BMW 3 Series in the European Top 10 this year.

The Peugeot 308 should be inside the annual Europe Top 10 in 2015.

Two models broke into the monthly European Top 10 for the very first time in 2014: the Renault Captur did so flamboyantly in June when it hit #7 and again in December (#9) while the 7-year-old Fiat 500, pushed by record UK sales, pointed its retro bonnet at #10 in March (record volume at 21,990 units) and again in June and September. The new generation Peugeot 308 for its part broke the nameplate’s European ranking record twice, lifting it to#9 in November and #8 in December. Just below, the VW Tiguan hit a best-ever #12 in April and could be in for a monthly Top 10 ranking when the new generation arrives.

All-models and All-brands data will be added when it becomes available.

Previous post: Europe December 2014: Peugeot 308 breaks ranking record again

One year ago (Top 10): Europe Full Year 2013: Renault Clio on podium for first time in 7 years

One year ago (complete): Europe Full Year 2013: Discover the Top 353 models and all brands

Two years ago: Europe Full Year 2012: Nissan Qashqai in Top 10 for the first time

Full Year 2014 Top 10 models and brands Rankings vs. Full 2013 figures below.

The Peugeot 308 is up to a best-ever 8th place in December

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

The European new car market delivers a 16th consecutive month of year-on-year gains in December at +5% to 997,210 registrations, bringing the final 2014 tally to just below 13 million units, also up 5% on 2013. Brand-wise, below Volkswagen shy at just +2%, Renault overtakes Ford to rank 2nd overall thanks to sales up 8% and a 7.6% market share, almost one percentage point above its 2014 level, while Opel/Vauxhall remains in 4th place. Peugeot (+8%), BMW (+12%) and most of all Mercedes (+17%) also shine whereas Audi drops to #8 and #3 premium at +2%. Skoda (-1%) and Citroen (-4%) disappoint.

The Renault Captur is inside the European Top 10 for the 2nd time ever.

The VW Golf is once again the best-selling nameplate on the continent and has now stabilised at +1% year-on-year to 37,265 sales. The Renault Clio (+8%) and VW Polo (-2%) exchange positions compared to November, with the Ford Fiesta (-10%) only 21 units above the Opel Corsa (+8%). Thanks to sales up 9% in 6th position, the Skoda Octavia overtakes the Nissan Qashqai (+22%) year-to-date to rank #8. The Renault Captur brilliantly lodges its 2nd ever European Top 10 ranking at #9 with 15,359 units (+14%) after the #7 it reached last June.

Mercedes sales are up 17% in December.

But the best performance of the month in the European Top 10 is once again delivered by the Peugeot 308. After breaking the nameplate’s ranking record last month at #9, it does so again in December at #8 with sales up 76% year-on-year to 15,412. This way the 308 outsells the Opel Astra for the third consecutive month, and the Peugeot 208 – kicked out of the Top 10 for the first time since June 2012 – for the 2nd time in a row. This is the highest European ranking hit by a compact Peugeot since the 307 in July 2006.

Previous post: Europe 11 months 2014: Discover the Top 357 models and all brands

Previous month (complete): Europe November 2014: Opel Mokka above Astra for the first time

Previous month (Top 10): Europe November 2014: Peugeot 308 breaks ranking record at #9

One year ago: Europe December 2013: VW Golf up 64%, Skoda Octavia up 53%

Full December 2014 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

The Renault Clio is the best-seller in Portugal for the 2nd straight year.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 260 All-models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Portugal enjoy a second consecutive year of growth in 2014, up a reassuring 35% year-on-year to 142,826 registrations. Logically, 22 of the Top 30 brands register year-on-year gains superior to 20%, with the Top 20 all in progress. The Top 7 most popular marques are unchanged on 2013, still characterised by the exceptional strength of premium German brands, all delivering extremely dynamic growth. Renault is up 33%, followed by Volkswagen (+37%), Peugeot (+41%), BMW (+39% and #1 in January!), Mercedes (+45%), Opel (+23%) and Audi (+33%). Nissan gains 4 spots and 66% to #8, Seat gains 3 and 77% to #10, Dacia gains 6 and 91% to #14, while Kia (+51%), Mitsubishi (+57%), Mazda (+79%) and Lexus (+89%) also lodge stunning results.

The VW Golf outsold the Renault Clio 4 times this year.

The Renault Clio remains the most popular model in Portugal this year and for the 6th time ever after 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2013, evolving like the market at +32% to 7,702 sales and 5.4% share. It is followed this year by the VW Golf, up a majestic 81% year-on-year to 5,621 units, even topping the monthly charts for 4 consecutive months between August and November, becoming a real threat for the Clio in 2015. The Peugeot 208 (+20%), VW Polo (+14%) and Renault Mégane (+12%) all lose market share and drop one spot, whereas the Nissan Qashqai is boosted by its new generation to advance 55% to #6 and the Seat Ibiza is back inside the Top 10 thanks to sales up 52%.

The Peugeot 2008 broke into the monthly Top 10 in December

Like in 2013, BMW manages to place two models inside the annual Portuguese Top 10: the 1 Series is up 38% to #9 and the 3 Series up 20% to #10. Illustrating the renewed strength of new car sales in Portgual, only 3 nameplates in the Top 50 lose ground year-in-year: the Smart Fortwo (-19%), Nissan Juke (-3%) and Citroen C-Elysée (-31%), and there is a lot of movement outside the Top 10: the Renault Captur stops 19 units outside of it at #11 but peaked at #6 in June, the Peugeot 308 is up 118% to #13, the Seat Leon up 236% to #15, Citroen C3 up 99% to #19, Mercedes C-Class up 66% to #22 and the Peugeot 2008 up 129% to #23 but cracking the monthly Top 10 in December at #9.

BMW was the #1 brand in Portugal in January.

Notice also the Dacia Sandero up 55% to #29, the VW Up up 92% to #35, Nissan Note up 266% to #37, Dacia Logan up 522% to #40 and BMW 4 Series up 605% to #49. There are 4 all-new launches inside the 2014 Top 100, led by the Mercedes GLA at #55 ahead of the Citroen C4 Cactus at #57 (#25 in October), Peugeot 108 at #64 (#21 in November) and BMW 2 Series at #78.

Previous month: Portugal November 2014: VW Golf stuck in pole position

One year ago: Portugal Full Year 2013: Renault Clio #1 for the first time in 5 years

Two years ago: Portugal Full Year 2012: Renault Megane #1 in worst year since 1985

Full Year 2014 Top 40 All-brands and Top 260 All-models vs. Full 2013 figures below.

Full December 2014 Top 34 All-brands and Top 206 All-models below.