Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Citroen C3 Picasso

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 45 All-brands! See title *

New car sales in Italy endure their 16th consecutive month of year-on-year decline in April, down 11% to 117,625 registrations which brings the year-to-date total to 474,308 units, down 12% on 2012. The top of the models ranking is back to its traditional self this month, with the Top 4 most popular models being identical to the 2013 year-to-date and Full year 2012 rankings: the Fiat Panda (8% share) is followed by the Fiat Punto (5.5%), Lancia Ypsilon (4.5%) and Fiat 500 (3.9%). The Renault Clio is back up 4 spots on March to a shiny 5th place and is now #6 so far in 2013 vs. #12 in 2012.

VW Up!

Hero of last month, the Fiat 500L is down 6 ranks to #10 in April but still ranks at a very impressive 7th spot year-to-date. Two models deliver their highest ever ranking this month in Italy: the Citroen C3 Picasso is up 28 spots to #16 with 1,631 sales and 1.4% and outsells the Citroen C3 for the first time in the country while the VW Up! breaks into the Italian Top 20 for the first time, up 4 ranks to #20 at 1,386 units and 1.2%. Notice also the Mercedes A-Class very solid at #19 and the Audi A3 up 9 spots to #22.

Previous month: Italy March 2013: Fiat 500L up to #4, outsells 500!

One year ago: Italy April 2012: Citroen C3, Alfa Giulietta and Chevrolet Aveo shine

Full April 2013 Top 50 models and Top 45 All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon

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

The station wagon (SW) market in Italy slows down its fall at -14% year-on-year in April to 7,736 registrations. After a wild month of March, the ranking is back to a little bit more of a traditional look, crowing the Ford Focus this month (+1) ahead of the Audi A4 (+1) and Renault Megane (+5) while last month’s leader the BMW 3 Series is back down to #4. Interestingly though, the Audi A4 keeps the YTD lead with 3,171 sales vs. 3,107 for the Focus and 3,102 for the Opel Astra. We welcome a new entrant in the Top 10 this month: the Chevrolet Cruze at #9 and 251 units.

Previous month: Italy Station Wagons March 2013: BMW 3 Series leads wild ranking

One year ago: Italy Station Wagons April 2012: Audi A4 at highest ratio

Full April 2013 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Fiat 500L

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 50 models/Top 45 brands! Click on title to see *

The Italian new car market slows down its fall in March to just -5% year-on-year at 132,353 registrations, still the 15th consecutive month in negative. Year-to-date, sales are down 13% to 357,000 units. This month’s podium is identical to the 2013 year-to-date and Full Year 2012 ones: the Fiat Panda leads the way with 10,559 sales and 8% share followed by the Fiat Punto at 5,877 units and 4.4% and the Lancia Ypsilon with 4,585 units and 3.5%. Note that 4.4% is the Punto nameplate’s lowest ever market share in the country since its original launch in November 1993 and only the 5th time it ever dives below 5% share after August 2012 (4.6%), October 2012 (4.7%), September 2008 (4.7%) and November 2012 (4.8%)…

VW Golf

Punto sales may have been impacted by the star of the month which is operating in the same segment: the Fiat 500L smashes its ranking, volume and share records in March at #4 with 4,535 sales and 3.4%, only falling 50 units short of a spot on the podium… As I mentioned a week ago, the 500L is turning out to be a solid success at home and for the first time this month it has now outsold its lil sis the Fiat 500 at #7 and 3,632 units… Up to #3 in February, the VW Golf is down to a still shiny #5 in March with 4,246 sales and 3.2%.

Nissan Qashqai

Another model to beat all its Italian records this month is the Nissan Qashqai. Unbelievably, almost 4 years after its facelift it is up a further two spots on February to reach an all-time best 6th position with 4,142 sales and 3.1%, its first time above 3% share in Italy. Its previous bests were #7 and 3,448 units in January 2009 and 2.4% share last month. Notice also the Nissan Juke up 11 ranks on February to #16, the Mercedes A-Class solid at #20, VW Up! up 18 to #24, Dacia Sandero up 20 to #25, Audi A3 up 17 to #31, Ford B-Max up 5 to #33, Range Rover Evoque up to #34 and the Kia Cee’d (#46) and Toyota Auris (#48) making their first appearance in the Italian Top 50 in years.

Previous month: Italy February 2013: VW Golf up to #3 in worst February in 34 years

One year ago: Italy March 2012: Fiat Panda #1 for third month in a row

Full March 2013 Top 50 models and Top 45 brands Ranking Tables below.

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BMW 3 Series Touring

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

Sales of new station wagons (SW) in Italy are down 26% year-on-year in March to 8,774 registrations, bringing the SW market share down from 8.6% in March 2012 to 6.6% this month. The SW market seems to be progressively moving towards larger cars which are starting to commend out-of-this world SW ratios. For the first time ever, the BMW 3 Series takes the lead of the Italian SW ranking in March thanks to 962 sales, meaning two thirds of all 3 Series sold in Italy las month were station wagons… The Ford Focus is up 3 spots on February to #2 at 891 units followed by the Audi A4 with 883 sales and a record 91% SW ratio!

Kia Cee’d SW

This means the Audi A4 now leads the Italian year-to-date station wagon ranking with 2,494 units, or 9 in 10 A4 sold over the period. Even though the A4 is only one unit above the Astra so far in 2013, this is the first time a large car dominates the ranking in Italy. And the surprises don’t stop there: we welcome a new entrant in the SW Top 10 this month: the Kia Cee’d landing directly in 7th position with 396 sales, a 389% year-on-year increase! Finally, the Skoda Octavia breaks into the SW Top 10 for only the 2nd time ever after last January at #9 and 321 units.

Previous month: Italy Station Wagons February 2013: Opel Astra & Audi A4 on top

One year ago: Italy Station Wagons March 2012: Opel Astra back in pole position

Full March 2013 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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VW Golf

* NOW UPDATED with actuals! Click on title to see the Top 50 models and All-brands *

No recovery in sight for the Italian new car market, and far from it. As the country was preparing for national elections, at 109,213 registrations new car sales are down 17% on February 2012 which was itself down 18% on February 2011… This is the 15th consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year decline for Italian car sales and the worst February since 1979 (92,227)… UNRAE predicts a Full Year 2013 at 1,326,000 units which is a drop of only 5%. This seems rather optimistic given after 2 months the market is down 17% at 223,920 units.

Mini Countryman

In this depressing context, the Fiat Panda is #1 for the 14th time in a row thanks to 9,636 sales and 8.8% share, followed once again by the Fiat Punto at 5,793 sales and 5.3%. With the new generation now trickling down into dealerships across the country, the VW Golf is up 5 spots on January to land in third place with 4,055 sales and 3.7%. This kind of seems like an honest performance, but in fact from the data I have access to this could be the first time the Golf manages to rank within the Italian podium for almost 20 years! The last time I have it officially there is in November 1993 when it ranked #3….

Other great performers this month in Italy include the Peugeot 208 up 4 ranks on last month to #7, the Nissan Qahsqai also up 4 to #8, the Mercedes A-Class stable at #17, BMW 3 Series up 10 spots to #18, Mini Countryman up to #22, Kia Sportage solid at #23, BMW 1 Series up to #28 and the Ford Ka up to #32. Notice also the Fiat 500L losing a little steam, down 5 ranks on January to #11 and the Ford B-Max stable at #38.

Previous month: Italy January 2013: Fiat 500L improves again in dire market

One year ago: Italy February 2012: Fiat Panda beats down Fiat Punto

Full February 2013 Top 50 models and All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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Opel Astra Sports Tourer

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

Italians car buyers are some of the last in the world with the Swedish and Slovak to continue their love affair with Station Wagons (SW): most models in the Large segment are sold almost exclusively through that format. This is why there is a regular update about Italian SW sales on BSCB, even though since 2012 the SW love affair is going a little cold. In February, in an overall market down a dismal 17% year-on-year, SW sales are down an even more worrying 33% to 7,301 registrations for a 6.7% market share vs. 8.2% a year ago.

Like in 2012 and in January, the Opel Astra is the most popular station wagon in the country with 777 sales and a very solid 66% SW ratio, and it is followed once again by the Audi A4 at 719 units and an out-of-this world 89% SW ratio only matched by the VW Passat at #4. The BMW 3 Series is up one spot to a fantastic third place with 683 sales and 56% SW ratio while the Ford Focus, #2 in 2012, is down to #5. Notice also the BMW 5 Series up to #7 and the Audi A6 very robust at #9 and 84% SW ratio.

Previous month: Italy Station Wagons January 2013: Audi A4 now established at #2

One year ago: Italy Station Wagons February 2012: Ford Focus confirms #1 spot

Full February 2013 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Fiat 500L

* NOW UPDATED with actuals for the Top 50 best-selling models/brands. See title *

The Italian new car market crisis is taking a dramatic turn at the start of 2013. At 114,255 registrations, January 2013 sales are down 18% on January 2012 and down 32% on January 2011… This is the 18th double-digit year-on-year decline in the last 2 years. With January traditionally accounting for around 10% of Full Year sales, the projection for 2013 is now at a bleak 1.1 to 1.2 million units, a result UNRAE president Jacques Bousquet “doesn’t even want to start imagining”, pointing out that “none of the parties involved in (the government) has actually given attention to a sector which employed 1.2 million people but where 350 companies closed in 2012″. The situation is now dire for the automotive sector in Italy and if no incentive is put in place during the year to boost sales, we could see the Italian new car market fall to almost 50-year lows, with 1966 being the last year sales were below 1.1 million annual units…

The Kia Sportage hits its highest ever ranking in Italy this month at #21…

In this miserable context, the Fiat Panda holds its own and delivers its 13th consecutive month in pole position with 9,560 sales and 8.4%, ahead of the Fiat Punto at 6,278 units and 5.5% with the Lancia Ypsilon back onto the podium for the first time since last April with 3,796 sales and 3.3%. The Fiat 500 is back up one spot to #4, the Renault Clio down one to a still outstanding 5th place and the Fiat 500L confirms it is now a force to be reckoned with, staying #6 but improving its market share to 2.7% thanks to 3,113 sales, new share and volume records for the model.

…As does the Range Rover Evoque at #30.

Further down, the VW Golf is up 7 ranks on December to #8, the Mercedes A-Class up 3 to #17, its best ranking since December 2011 and the Audi Q3 is up to #25, its 2nd-best ranking ever in Italy below the #24 spot it hit last August. Two SUVs reach their highest ranking ever this month in Italy: the Kia Sportage slices its December ranking in two to hit #21 with 1,101 sales and 1% and the Range Rover Evoque jumps from outside the Top 50 to a brilliant 32nd place at 887 units and 0.8%.

Previous post: Italy Full Year 2012: Fiat Panda ends 18 years of Punto domination in worst market since 1979

Previous month: Italy December 2012: Fiat 500L up to #6, Renault Clio at 10-year high

One year ago: Italy January 2013: Fiat Panda takes off

Full January 2013 Top 50 models and All-brands Ranking Tables below.

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Audi RS4 Avant

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

Italians car buyers are some of the last in the world with the Swedish and Slovak to continue their love affair with Station Wagons (SW): most models in the Large segment are sold almost exclusively through that format. This is why there is a regular update about Italian SW sales on BSCB. However as in 2012, 2013 is starting rather badly for SW sales in Italy, down 36% year-on-year in January in an overall market down 17%… The Opel Astra keeps the pole position it grabbed over the Full Year 2012 with 944 sales and a very strong 67% SW ratio.

It is followed like in December by the Audi A4 which seems to have established itself an at outstanding 2nd place with 889 units and a huge 88% SW ratio, meaning 9 out of 10 Audi A4 sold in Italy this month were Station Wagons… The Ford Focus is back up to #3, ahead of the BMW 3 Series very strong at 59% SW ratio vs. 40% over the Full Year 2012. The Audi A6 maintains itself within the Top 10 at a brilliant 79% SW ratio while we welcome a new model in the Italian SW Top 10 this month: the Skoda Octavia.

Previous post: Italy Station Wagons 2012: Opel Astra edges out Ford Focus

One year ago: Italy Station Wagons January 2012: Ford Focus reclaims top spot

Full January 2013 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

Read more…

The Fiat Panda put an end to 18 consecutive years of Fiat Punto domination in Italy

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 best-selling models actuals and Top 46 All-brands! Click on title to see *

After losing a sizeable 15% in 2011 to fall to 1,749,739 registrations, the Italian new car market falls further into recession in 2012, down another 19% to just 1,410,824 units. This is the lowest annual figure since 1979! For the first time since World War II, the car population in Italy may even have decreased this year with more cars being scrapped than new cars being bought! Historical times indeed, and for the first time since 1994 there is a new leader in the models ranking: the Fiat Panda. Helped by the third generation of the model launched in late 2011, the Panda puts an end to 18 consecutive years of Fiat Punto domination with sales up 2% to 117,775 units and 8.3%. It even broke the 10% share barrier for the first time since 1989 in October and for the first time for any model in Italy since December 2007 when the Fiat Punto hit 10.5%.

Lancia Ypsilon

Reversely, the Fiat Punto, in effect not truly renewed since the Grande Punto launched back in 2005, dives to its lowest ever level at home. For the first time ever in a full year, it sells less than 100,000 units: down 35% on 2011 to just 80,011 units and 5.7% share. It even fell below 5% market share 3 times this year: in November 4.8%, October (4.7%), and August when it hit its lowest-ever market share in the country at 4.6%… Thanks to a strong start of year, the Lancia Ypsilon climbs onto the podium for the first time ever at #3 with 44,410 sales and 3.1%, down 19%. It passes the Fiat 500 (-28%) and Ford Fiesta (-36%) but has not ranked in the monthly Top 3 since April.

Peugeot 208

Panda-Punto-Ypsilon-500: for the first time since 2000 when the Fiat Punto led the way ahead of the Fiat Seicento, Lancia Y and Fiat Panda, the Top 4 models are 100% Italian this year. The first Alfa Romeo to rank within the year-end Italian Top 10 since 1990 last year, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta confirms in 2012, up one spot to #8 with 29,878 units and 2.1% (-15%). With the Panda, the only other 3 models to not lose ground in the 2012 Top 20 are the Toyota Yaris stable at #10, the all-new Peugeot 208 landing directly at #15 with 19,451 sales and 1.4%, peaking at #5 in October, and the VW Tiguan up 28% and 18 ranks to #19.

Mercedes B-Class

Other great performers in the Top 50 include the Fiat Freemont up 44% and 23 spots to #22, the Hyundai ix35 up 28% and 19 ranks to #23, the Mercedes B-Class up 51% and 40 spots to #25, BMW 3 Series up 18% and 24 ranks to #32 and the Audi Q3 and VW Up! up to #40 and #44 for their first full year of sales.

Previous post: Italy December 2012: Fiat 500L up to #6, Renault Clio at 10-year high

Previous year: Italy Full Year 2011: An Alfa Romeo in the Top 10 for the first time since 1990

Full Year 2012 Top 50 models, Top 46 All-brands and each monthly Top 30 Ranking Table below.

Read more…

Fiat 500L

* NOW UPDATED with the actuals for the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 25 brands! Click on title to see *

No sign of recovery for new car sales in Italy, down 22% year-on-year in December to 88,132 registrations, bringing the Full Year 2012 total to a dismal 1,410,824 units, down 20% on 2011. After two bumper months, the Fiat Panda gets back to earth in December at 6,797 sales and 7.7% while the Fiat Punto is timidly back above 5% share at 4,462 units and 5.1%. The Panda has put an end to 18 consecutive years of Fiat Punto reign this year and has enabled the nameplate to top the Italian ranking for the first time ever, and it’s no mean feat since the Panda was originally launched in 1980. But more on that in the Full Year 2012 Italy update…

Renault Clio IV

December is always a little crazy in Italy as strong end-of-year incentives traditionally impact the models ranking and 2012 is no exception: the Toyota Yaris is up 7 spots on November to land in an outstanding third spot with 2,689 sales and 3.1%, its first time on the Italian podium since December 2008! Boosted by the 4th generation now on sale in the country, the Renault Clio is also up 7 ranks to an excellent 4th place at 2,588 units and 2.9%, the nameplate’s highest ranking since… May 2003! Remember though 3 generations of the models are counted within this figure.

Citroen C3 Picasso

After brilliantly breaking into the Top 10 at #9 last month, the Fiat 500L continues to amaze and is up 3 further spots to #6 in December thanks to 2.248 sales and 2.6% share – only 82 units below the ‘normal’ Fiat 500! Could the 500L establish itself within the Italian podium in 2013? Answer in a few months… Other great performers in December in Italy include the Citroen C3 Picasso up a huge 46 ranks to break into the Italian Top 20 for the first time at #18, the Mercedes A-Class at #20, VW Up! up 10 to #26, Ford Ka up 20 to #31 and the Mini Countryman up 13 to #35.

Great Wall Steed

Finally, notice the Ford B-Max already down a worrying 23 spots on November to #49, the Great Wall Steed doped by incentives at a huge 307 sales (at the same time last year the Great Wall Hover delivered a record 786 sales and ranked #32) and the Dacia Lodgy at 255 units. Brand-wise, Fiat is solid this month at 20.6% share while Volkswagen (6.7% and -36%) and Ford (6% and -33%) are markedly down. Toyota is up 5 spots on last month to #4 whereas Peugeot at +1% and #9 and Land Rover at +26% and #24 are the only carmakers to gain ground year-on-year this month.

Previous month: Italy November 2012: Fiat 500L breaks into Top 10!

One year ago: Italy Full Year 2011: An Alfa Romeo in the Top 10 for the first time since 1990

Full December 2012 Top 50 models and Top 25 brands Ranking Table below.

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