Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Mercedes B-Class

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 All-brands ranking + Top 300 models! See title *

In a gloomy European context, German new car sales have remained very solid in 2012, down just 3% to 3,082,504 registrations. Unsurprisingly the VW Golf is the most popular model in the country for the 32nd consecutive year (no interruption since 1981!) and for the 37th time in the last 38 years, with only the Mercedes W123 interrupting its reign in 1980. It sells 240,702 units for a 7.8% market share, down 7% on 2011 but the arrival of the 7th generation should give it a kick in 2013. In fact the podium is unchanged on 2011 with the VW Passat (-14%) and Polo (-16%) following in the ranking, making it the 2nd year in a row (and ever) that Volkswagen monopolises the year-end German podium.

The Nissan Qashqai is the #1 import in Germany in 2012

The Mercedes C-Class (-13%) and Opel Astra (-23%) exchange positions, while the BMW 3 Series is up one spot to #6. But the most impressive progression in the Top 10 is without a doubt delivered by the Mercedes B-Class, boosted by the arrival of the new model. It simply doubles its sales vs. last year and gains 21 spots to reach a record #7 at 59,420 units, even breaking into the monthly podium for the very first time in September at #3. The BMW 1 Series, also supported by a new generation, is up 7 ranks and 12% to #8 with 59,241 sales and hits a record #2 in December.

VW Tiguan

The other model hitting a significant milestone this year is the VW Tiguan, up 8 spots and 22% to a best-ever #11 at 55,615 units. While it had only broken into the monthly Top 10 twice before 2012, it repeats this feat no less than 7 times this year, peaking at #7. The Audi A6/A7 is also up 8 ranks to #13, the Skoda Octavia is stable at its highest ever year-end ranking (#17) while the VW Up! manages to break into the German year-end Top 20 for its first full year of sales in the country at #20 with 42,842 units.

Mercedes ML-Class

Given Skoda and Seat are 100% owned by the Volkswagen Group, the best-selling foreign model in Germany this year and for the first time ever is the Nissan Qashqai in spite of sales down 11% to #29. It only just passes the Hyundai i30 at #30 (-12%) with the Renault Megane (#37), Toyota Yaris (#38) and Renault Clio (#40) the only other imports in the Top 40. Other great performers include the Opel Zafira up 52% to #26, Audi Q3 up 778% to #34, Hyundai ix35 up 44% to #48, Mercedes GLK up 34% to #51, Mercedes ML-Class up 117% to #58 and Hyundai i40 up 433% to #87.

Previous post: Germany December 2012: BMW 1 Series up to best-ever #2!

Previous year: Germany Full Year 2011: VW Golf, Passat and Polo on podium

More commentary and Full Year 2012 Top 300 models + Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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BMW 1 Series

* See the Top 308 All-models ranking and Top 50 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

Whereas the German new car market had held remarkably well so far this year in a depressed European context, in December it drops by 16% year-on-year to 204,331 registrations, bringing the Full Year 2012 total to 3,082,504 units, down 3% on 2011. Disrupted by the transition between 6th and 7th generations, the VW Golf falls 35% year-on-year to just 10,666 sales and 5.2% share, its lowest monthly volume and market share in Germany for potentially 30 years, as the lowest Golf figures I had so far were 11,072 sales in February 2007 and 5.3% share in December 2003…

The VW Golf drops to its lowest level in potentially 30 years this month…

Reversely the BMW 1 Series is now in uncharted territory at home, up 6 spots on November to a best-ever 2nd place with 6,532 sales and 3.2%. This beats the 1 Series’ previous ranking record of #3 hit in in January 2009, it is also the model’s highest market share ever in the country but the monthly volume record remains 8,694 it reached in April 2008. This is the 6th time the 1 Series manages to rank within the German monthly Top 4 after November 2007 (#4), May 2008 (#4), January 2009 (#3), June 2012 (#4) and September 2012 (#4).

BMW 3 Series

For the first time in history, BMW places two models on the German podium with the 3 Series also in excellent shape, up 2 ranks on last month to #3 at 6,047 units and 3%, its second time on the podium this year after hitting #2 last April. BMW also has 3 cars in the Top 8 (more than any other brand!) with the 5 Series up 9 to #8. The Mercedes A-Class is up 7 to a shiny 6th place, its best ranking since the arrival of the new generation, as is the VW Tiguan to equal its best-ever ranking at #7, a level it also reached last January, March and July.

Hyundai i30

Exceptional performance of the Hyundai i30, up 28 spots to #16 with 3,166 sales and 1.5%, the highest ranking reached by a Korean model in Germany since the same i30 hit #13 in cash-for-clunkers-crazy February 2009. If we set apart the ‘half-foreign’ Skoda Fabia (#12), Skoda Octavia (#19) and Seat Ibiza (#24), the i30 is the only import in the Top 30, with the Renault Megane (#31), Nissan Qashqai (#32), Hyundai ix35 (#34) and Fiat 500 (#37) the next most popular.

Opel Cascada

Notice also the Toyota Aygo up 23 ranks to #38, the Hyundai i40 up 19 to a best-ever #42, the Skoda Citigo up 10 to break into the Top 50 for only the 2nd time with last September at #47, the Toyota Auris up 23 to #50, Ford B-Max up a shy 2 spots to #57, the Opel Mokka up 88 to #62 with 997 sales and the Subaru Forester up 46 to #68. The Opel Adam is down 8 ranks to #201 for its 2nd month in market and we welcome two all-new models in the ranking in December: the Cadillac ATS at #246 and 24 units and the Opel Cascada at #247 with 23 sales.

Full Year post: Germany Full Year 2012: Mercedes B-Class and VW Tiguan break records

Previous month: Germany November 2012: Ford Fiesta and Audi Q5 impress

One year ago: Germany December 2011: VW Up! already at #22

Full December 2012 Top 308 All-models and Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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2013 Ford Fiesta

* See the Top 308 All-models and Top 50 All-brands rankings by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Germany are down 3% year-on-year to 259,846 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,878,173 units, down 2% on 2011. For the 2nd month in a row and the 5th time this year, Volkswagen monopolises the models podium, with the Golf at #1 with 21,024 sales and 8.1%, the Passat at #2 with 8,299 units and 3.2% and the Polo at #3 with 6,889 sales and 2.7%, reflecting the 2012 year-to-date ranking and all with slightly higher market shares than their YTD levels.

Audi Q5

Potentially in runout mode before the facelifted version hits dealerships, the Ford Fiesta is up one further spot on October to #4 at 6,339 units and 2.4%, its highest ranking since October 2009, with this generation’s best remaining #3 in July 2009 when the market was heavily influenced by scrappage schemes. The BMW 3 Series is up 6 ranks to #5 with 6,108 sales and 2.4% also, the Audi A4 is stable vs. last month but drops 2 to #6, the BMW 1 Series is back up 5 to #8 and the Audi A3 is up 5 to break into the German Top 10 for the first time since last April.

The Mercedes A-Class continues its new generation-fuelled progression, up 5 spots this month to #13, its best ranking since October 2011 and the VW Up! stays very robust and lodges a very similar performance to its record October at 4,457 sales and 1.7% share but drops to #16. Two Audi SUVs deliver outstanding results this month: the Q5 is up 8 spots to reach a best-ever #22 at 3,002 units and 1.2%, its previous best being #29 in November 2010, and the Q3 is up 10 to #23 with 2,891 sales and 1.1%, its 2nd best ranking ever in Germany below the #21 it reached last August.

Renault Clio IV

About those far and few between foreign models in Germany, if we exclude the Skoda Octavia (#21), Fabia (#24) and Seat Ibiza (#25), only ‘half-foreign’, there are still no foreigners in the Top 25 and the Renault Clio leads the way, helped by the new generation of the model now available and up 22 spots on October to #28. The only other 3 true foreigners in the Top 40 are the Renault Twingo at #35, the Renault Megane at #38 and the Nissan Qashqai at #39.

Opel Adam

Other great performers in Germany this month include the Seat Mii up 7 ranks to a best-ever #54, the Skoda Citigo up 30 to #57, the Ford B-Max up 12 to #59, the Dacia Lodgy up 6 to #68, Mazda6 up 54 to #71, Mercedes CLS up 27 to #92 and Mercedes Citan up 17 to #151. Notice also the Opel Mokka down 46 spots to #150, the Skoda Rapid down 75 to #184, the Mercedes CLA up 37 to #246 and the Opel Adam making its very first appearance in the ranking at #193 with 101 sales.

There is now also a Top 50 All-brands ranking available for Germany, unsurprisingly showing Volkswagen head and shoulders above the rest with 59,542 sales and 22.9%, and the spectacular success of homegrown prestige brands: Mercedes comes at #2 with a massive 10.1% market share, followed by Audi at 9.9% and BMW at 8.8% while Opel at 6.8% and Ford at 6.3% disappoint. Below Skoda at #7, Renault is the best-selling importer at #8 with 3.8% ahead of Hyundai (2.9%).

Previous month: Germany October 2012: VW Up! at volume, share and ranking best

One year ago: Germany November 2011: Audi A1 inside Top 20 for the first time

Full November 2012 Top 308 All-models and Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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The VW Up! is getting dangerously close to the German Top 10…

* See the Top 309 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

The German new car market is up 0.5% year-on-year in October to 259,529 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,618,327 units, down 2% on 2011. For the first time since last July and the 4th time in the last 12 months, the podium is monopolised by Volkswagen. The Golf (8.5%), Passat (3.2%) and Polo (2.6%) are all at slightly higher market shares than their year-to-date levels. In fact this month there are no less than 6 Volkswagens in the German Top 12 vs. just one Opel, the Astra at #7…

VW Touran

The Touran is up 6 spots on September to a fantastic 6th place, its highest ranking in the country since January 2011, with 5,264 sales and 2% while the Tiguan is up 4 to break into the Top 10 at #9 for the 6th time in the last 12 months. But the most impressive of the lot is the VW Up!, aptly named this month as it is up a solid 9 ranks to #12 with 4,490 sales and 1.7% share, which are German ranking, volume and share records for the model launched late last year. Previous bests were #13 (July), 4,449 (May) and 1.6% (July).

Mercedes A-Class

Other great performers this month include the Audi A4 back up to #4 vs. #9 year-to-date, the Ford Fiesta up 17 spots on September to #5, the Audi A3 up 3 to #15, the Mercedes A-Class up 9 to #18, the nameplate’s highest ranking in one year thanks to the new model, the Audi Q5 up 21 to #30, the Seat Mii up 15 to a best-ever #61, the Ford B-Max up 186 to #71 which is lower than in France for example and the Dacia Lodgy back up to #74 like in August. Other notable recent launches include the Opel Mokka down 9 to #104, the Skoda Rapid landing at #109 with 496 sales and the Mercedes Citan up 128 ranks to #168.

Skoda Rapid

As far as foreign models are concerned, if we exclude the Skoda Octavia (#21), Fabia (#24) and Seat Ibiza (#28), only ‘half-foreign’, there are absolutely no imports in the Top 25 with the Nissan Qashqai leading the charge at #27, followed by the Renault Megane at #31, the Fiat 500 at #34, the Hyundai ix35 at #38 and the Renault Twingo at #40. That’s only 5 true foreign cars in the German Top 40…

Previous month: Germany September 2012: Mercedes B-Class on podium!

One year ago: Germany October 2011: Audi A1 hits highest position yet

Full October 2012 Top 309 All-models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

Mercedes B Class

* See the Top 302 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

The European recession has now caught up with Germany as well, with new car sales down 11% year-on-year in September to 250,082 registrations, which brings the year-to-date total to 2,358,798 units, down 2% on 2011. Below the VW Golf still reigning supreme at 21,763 sales and 8.7% – its strongest share since January – in spite of the imminent arrival of the 7th generation, the VW Passat reclaims its traditional 2nd spot with 6,229 units and 2.5%.

Mini Countryman

The Mercedes B-Class new generation continues to impress and delivers the biggest event of the month by landing on the German monthly podium for the very first time in the nameplate’s 7 year-career at #3 with 5,801 sales and 2.3%. Its previous best was #5 in July and August 2012 and this is the B-Class’ 2nd best market share ever below the 2.4% it reached last month and equal with July 2012 while its Its volume record still stands at 6,364 (in November 2006).

BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series also shines, up 10 spots on August to #4 with 5,704 units and 2.3%, now ranking #10 year-to-date vs. #15 in 2011. The is the 1 Series’ second highest ranking ever in Germany behind the third place it held in January 2009 and the 2nd time it reaches that level in the last 4 months. Below the Mercedes C-Class down one rank to #5, the Opel Corsa takes the lead of its category at #6 given the VW Polo is down 10 spots on August to a surprisingly low #16.

Skoda Octavia

There are two other outstanding performers this month: the Skoda Octavia is up 8 ranks to break into the monthly Top 10 for the first time since I have access to monthly German rankings in 2002! It sells 4,649 units for a 1.9% market share and ranks #15 year-to-date. The Mini for its part is up a massive 18 spots to hit its highest monthly ranking in Germany since the 2000 relaunch at #14 with 4,106 sales and 1.6%. This is the Mini’s second biggest volume below the scrappage scheme fuelled 4,363 it reached in June 2009 and its highest ever market share equal with December 2011…(Note these figures include Mini Countryman sales)

Opel Mokka

The Ford Kuga is up 28 ranks to #24 vs. #43 year-to-date, the BMW X1 is up 5 to #26, the Mercedes A-Class up 31 to #27, the Mercedes GLK lodges another excellent month at #32 vs. #53 year-to-date, the Skoda Citigo breaks into the German Top 50 for the first time, up 24 spots to #47, the BMW X5 is up 36 to #73 while the BMW 7 Series is up 33 to #89.

Toyota GT86

The two best-selling foreign models are only ‘half-foreign’: the Skoda Octavia (#9) and Fabia (#17) are followed by the Toyota Yaris at #25 (+20), the Skoda Yeti at #28 (+10), the Nissan Qashqai at #29 (+5), the Renault Megane at #30 (+9) and the Seat Ibiza at #31 (-6). Finally, two newcomers take off this month: the Opel Mokka is up 103 ranks to #95 with 660 sales while the Toyota GT86 is up a huge 193 spots to #99 at 635 units.

Previous month: Germany August 2012: Audi A4 up to #2, Opel Mokka lands

One year ago: Germany September 2011: Mercedes A-Class at highest in 6 years

Full September 2012 Top 302 Ranking Table below.

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Audi Q3

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to JLKN *

* The Germany overall August 2012 Top 303 Ranking Table is here *

Thanks to JLKN it looks like the German Private Sales (PS) ranking has become a monthly update on BSCB! Always fascinating the go through this ranking as it is radically different to the overall ranking we are all used to… This month while the VW Golf keeps the pole position with 5,868 sales to private buyers, the Mercedes B-Class is up to and outstanding 2nd place with 3,611 units and 67% PS ratio. Curiously, while the VW Polo is down to #3 with 3,605 sales it achieves a better ratio of 69%.

Dacia Duster

And as usual, the surprises keep coming: below the Mercedes C-Class at #4 and 38%, the VW Up! continues its progression to an awesome 5th place at 2,021 units and a PS ratio back up to 59%. The Audi Q3, already impressive in the overall ranking at a record #21, is a smash hit with private buyers: up 3 spots on July to #6 with 1,837 sales and a stable 68% PS ratio. The Seat Ibiza is up one rank to a beautiful 7th spot and an excellent 77% PS ratio – the #1 ‘foreign’ model.

Skoda Yeti

Incredible #7 with private buyers last month, the Dacia Duster shows us it wasn’t a fluke and that it is one of the 10 favourite cars in Germany at the moment at a great 9th position with 1,702 units and a huge 90% PS ratio vs. #36 overall. The Skoda Yeti makes itself noticed at #13 with 70% PS ratio, the Hyundai ix35 is up to #16, and 84%, the BMW X1 up to #18 and the Mercedes GLK up to a magnificent #20.

Mercedes GLK

Reversely, note the Opel Corsa at 25% PS ratio, the VW Touran at 30% and the VW Golf at 32%. It’s also worth mentioning that the Audi A4, #2 overall with 5,994 sales, and the VW Passat, #3 at 5,928 units, don’t appear in the Top 20 Private Sales Ranking, meaning under 17% of all models were actually sold to private buyers this month.

Previous Private Sales month: Germany July 2012 Private Sales: Dacia Duster #7!

Overall August post: Germany August 2012: Audi A4 up to #2, Opel Mokka lands

Full August 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Audi A4

* See the Top 303 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

The German new car market is down 5% year-on-year in August to 226,455 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,108,716 units, down just 0.6% on 2011, a remarkable performance in the current European gloom. In spite of the imminent arrival of the 7th generation, the VW Golf delivers its highest market share since last April at 8% thanks to 18,111 sales. At 5,994 units and 2.6% share, the Audi A4 is up two spots to 2nd place, a ranking it hadn’t held since January 2009… It is #12 year-to-date at 1.7%. The VW Passat rounds out the podium at #3 and 2.6%.

Audi Q3

Below the Mercedes C-Class up two spots to #4, the Mercedes B-Class beats its market share record for the 2nd consecutive month at 2.4% thanks to 5,381 sales, and stays at a record 5th place. The VW Polo is down 3 ranks to #6, the Opel Corsa up 9 to #7, the Audi A3 is up 6 to #12 and the VW Up! down one to a still shiny #15. The Audi Q3 reaches its highest ever ranking, volume and market share at #21 with 2,685 units and 1.2%. The Mercedes GLK is up 19 spots to #27, the Hyundai i20 up 43 to #41 and the Peugeot 208 up 21 to #43.

Opel Mokka

Technically the first 4 foreign models are only half-foreign: the Skoda Octavia at #17, Skoda Fabia at #19, Seat Ibiza at #25 and Seat Leon at #29, with the first ‘true’ foreigner the Renault Clio at #33, followed by the Nissan Qashqai at #34, Dacia Duster at #36 and Renault Megane at #39, interestingly all from the Renault-Nissan alliance. The new generation VW Beetle stops 80 sales short of a spot in the monthly Top 50 at a best-ever #51 with 1,218 sales, up 23 ranks on July.

Mercedes Citan

Further down, notice the Honda CR-V up 24 spots to #67, the Dacia Lodgy up 35 to #74 and the Chevrolet Cruze up 55 to #89. We welcome two newcomers in the models ranking this month in Germany: the Opel Mokka lands at #198 with 104 sales (see my article about the Mokka’s success here) while the Mercedes Citan is #258 with 23 units.

Previous post: Germany July 2012 Private Sales: Dacia Duster #7!

Previous month: Germany July 2012: Mercedes B-Class and VW Up! break records

One year ago: Germany August 2011: Opel Astra on podium

Full August 2012 Top 303 Ranking Table below.

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Dacia Duster

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to JLKN *

Thanks to JLKN I can share with you for the second time on BSCB what people really buy with a Top 20 Private Sales ranking. And like for the 6 months 2012 ranking, there are surprises aplenty… The usual suspects are on top: the VW Golf logically leads with 7,506 sales followed by the VW Polo at 4,340. But it’s the Mercedes B-Class that climbs on the third step of the podium (vs. #5 in the general ranking) thanks to 4,221 units sold and an excellent 73% Private Sales (PS) ratio.

VW Up!

#3 over the first 6 months 2012, the VW Tiguan ranks 4th in July with a robust 62% PS ratio, ahead of the Mercedes C-Class at 44%. Already #7 over 6 months, the VW Up! does even better in July and snaps up a shiny 6th spot with 2,044 sales, note however that its PS ratio is down slightly at 52% this month vs. 55% year-to-date, perhaps the sign that rental companies are starting to buy the Up! in droves.

Seat Ibiza

But the biggest surprises are yet to come… Similarly to France where Dacia placed the Duster at #5 and the Sandero at #9 over 6 months 2012, the French/Romanian brand does not sell much to rental companies or administrations and as a result the Dacia Duster ranks at an amazing 7th place in the Private Sales ranking (vs. #33 overall) with 1,915 sales and a stunning 90% PS ratio, by far the best in the Top 20. In the overall ranking, you will never see a foreign model placed that high (except in 2009 when cash-for-clunkers messed up everything) so it is quite revealing to see that ‘true’ German consumers actually buy foreign brands en masse as well as their national ones.

Audi Q3

The second foreign model in the Top 10 is only ‘half-foreign’: the Seat Ibiza is at an extremely solid #8 with 1,865 sales and a 76% PS ratio, compared to #28 in the overall ranking. The Audi Q3 is already quite successful overall at #26 in July but enormously more so with private buyers: it is #9 this month with 1,705 units and a huge 68% PS ratio, now the brand’s best-seller at home…

Hyundai ix35

Other great performers with private buyers in July are the Smart Fortwo at #12 and 70% PS ratio (vs. #30), the Audi A1 at #13 and 55% (vs. #22), the Toyota Yaris at #14 and 79% (vs. #39), the Nissan Qashqai at #15 and 58% (vs. #29) and the Hyundai ix35 at #20 and 75% (vs. #43), making it 6 foreign models in the Top 20. Reversely, the Opel Astra (32%) and Ford Fiesta (33%) deliver the lowest Private Sales ratios in the Top 20.

Previous Private Sales post: Germany 6 months 2012 Private Sales: What people really buy

Previous general post: Germany July 2012: Mercedes B-Class and VW Up! break records

Full July 2012 Private Sales Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Mercedes B-Class

* See the Top 298 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

German new car sales are down 5% year-on-year in July at 247,860 units, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,882,261 units, down just 0.07% on 2011… As the unveiling of the 7th generation is only one month away, the VW Golf stays unattainable in pole position at 19,147 sales and 7.7%, ahead of the VW Passat at 3.2% and Polo at 2.8%, both above their 2012 year-to-date levels and making the podium 100% Volkswagen for the first time since last March.

Audi A4

Up 6 spots on June to #4, the Audi A4 reaches its highest position in Germany since December 2009 thanks to 6,336 sales and 2.6% share. The Mercedes B-Class for its part simply hits its highest ever ranking and market share in its native country at #5 with 2.3% and 5,806 units. Its previous bests were #6 last May and 2.2% in August 2006… The VW Tiguan also reaches its highest ranking ever at #7, a position it already held in January and March 2012.

VW Up!

The VW Touran is up 7 ranks to break into the Top 10 for the 2nd time this year at #10 while the VW Up! continues to progress: it gains 6 spots on June to land in 13th position with 3,946 sales and 1.6%. This is the Up!’s highest ever ranking and market share in Germany, this time with absolutely no impact on the Polo which has returned to its traditional level at #3.

Audi Q3

Other great performers in the Top 50 this month include the Audi A1 up 4 ranks to #22, the Audi Q3 up 13 to a best-ever #26 with 2,515 sales and 1%, the Dacia Duster up 10 to #33, the Hyundai ix35 up 7 to #43, the Mercedes GLK up 10 to #46 and the Mercedes ML-Class up 11 to #49.

Mercedes GLK

Further down, notice the Kia Cee’d up 14 spots to #52, the Skoda Citigo up 46 to #58 with 1,117 units, the Seat Mii up 55 to #70 with 962 sales, the VW Beetle up 18 to #74, the Dacia Lodgy up 21 to #109, the Subaru XV also up 21 to #138, the Ford B-Max up 67 to #182, the Chevrolet Malibu landing directly at #188 with 126 sales and the Toyota GT86 up 38 ranks to 227.

Previous month: Germany June 2012: BMW 1 Series and Mercedes B-Class shine

6 months 2012: Germany 6 months 2012: Mercedes C-Class and Audi A6 pull market up

One year ago: Germany July 2011: Mercedes A-Class back in Top 10

Full July 2012 Top 298 Ranking Table below.

Read more…

VW Tiguan (US version)

* See the Top 15 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to JLKN *

For the first time on Best Selling Cars Blog and thanks to JLKN I am able to share with you the best-selling models to private buyers in Germany. Now brace yourself for a bit of a shock as this ranking is totally different to the one you are used to seeing… Volkswagen is truly the car of the people: it monopolises the models podium here too but while the VW Golf and Polo lead the way the Tiguan takes the third spot (vs. #11 overall) with a strong 63% Private Sales (PS) ratio.

VW Up!

The Passat is nowhere to be seen in the Top 15 which means less than 20% of its sales are private. However big surprise: the Up! is already at a brilliant 7th place with 12,196 private sales or 56% of its total. Mercedes is doing extremely well, placing 4 models in the first 13: the B-Class is #4 (59% PS), the C-Class #5 (34%), the A-Class #11 (67%) and the E-Class #13 (37%). Skoda places the Fabia at an excellent 6th position and the Octavia at #8.

Toyota Yaris

Let’s notice that both the VW Golf and Opel Astra lodge the 2 weakest private sales ratios in the Top 15: respectively 34% and 29%. Reversely the Smart Fortwo ranks #12, 16 spots above its overall ranking, while the Toyota Yaris is the best-selling foreign model after the Skodas at a very solid 15th place with 8,970 private sales, delivering the highest PS ratio in the Top 15 at 72%.

Germany overall: Germany 6 months 2012: Mercedes C-Class and Audi A6 pull market up

Previous post: Germany June 2012: BMW 1 Series and Mercedes B Class shine

Previous month: Germany May 2012: Mercedes B-Class hits highest ranking ever

One year ago: Germany June 2011: Mercedes C-Class #2 for the first time in 7 months

Full 6 months 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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