Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Nissan Leaf. Picture courtesy of don.vn.cz, all rights reserved.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 models/Top 10 brands! Click on title to see *

Contrasting with the rest of Europe, Norwegian new car sales are in great shape this month, up 29% year-on-year to 13,988 registrations which brings the year-to-date total back into positive (exactly like the LCV market) at 47,684 units, up 4% on 2012. If the VW Golf unsurprisingly flies above the competition with 903 sales and 6.5% now that the Mazda CX-5 is out of sight at #16, the big event this month is the continuous progression of the Nissan Leaf, now #2 at 455 units and 3.3% share, ranking and share records for the model in Norway and the world…

Toyota RAV4

This is by far the best monthly ranking reached by an electric or hybrid car in any country in Europe and positions Norway at the forefront of a transition towards fuel-efficient vehicles, along with Japan and California. The proof that well-tuned government incentives do have an impact on what cars consumers buy and given the right price an electric car is as valid an option as any other. Other great performers this month include the Toyota RAV4 up a massive 16 spots on March to #4 with 410 sales and 2.9%, the Mitsubishi Outlander up 7 to #5 at 387 units and 2.8% and the Opel Mokka remaining at #18.

Previous month: Norway March 2013: Mazda CX-5 threatens VW Golf

One year ago: Norway April 2012: VW Tiguan up to best-ever #2

Full April 2013 Top 50 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.

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VW Transporter

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new Light Commercial Vehicles are up an impressive 32% year-on-year in April in Norway to 3,310 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total back into positive at 10,964 units, up 3% on 2012. The VW Transporter celebrates its third consecutive month atop the ranking thanks to 415 sales and 12.5% and is now also #1 year-to-date at 1,532 units and 14% share, albeit only 6 units above the VW Caddy, #1 in 2012 and #2 this month once again with 393 sales and 11.9%. The Ford Transit Custom continues to progress: up one spot to #7 at 121 units and 3.7% while the Mercedes Citan is back up 4 ranks to #13.

Previous month: Norway LCV March 2013: Ford Transit Custom takes off

Full April 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Mazda CX-5

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 best-selling models/Top 10 brands! Click on title to see *

Difficult month for new car sales in Norway, down 18% year-on-year in March to 10,735 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 33,696 units, now in negative compared to 2012 at -3%. In 2011 the Mitsubishi ASX got to a point when it amazingly threatened the VW Golf for the Norwegian pole position. It turned out to be a bit of a one-hit wonder as it hasn’t appeared in the Top 20 for almost a year now. With another time comes another extremely successful compact SUV: the Mazda CX-5 which after beating all records in February when it reached a world-best 2nd place with 497 sales and 4.4%, improves again this month to 4.6% thanks to 489 units – now only 0.6% below the VW Golf. The next few month will decide whether this is another shooting star or whether the CX-5 is here to stay in Norway.

Nissan Leaf

Each following model within the Top 5 lodges an outstanding month. The Toyota Auris remains third with 400 sales and 3.7%, the Nissan Leaf improves on a record month of February to a world-best 4th position with 297 units and 2.8% which are also its volume and share records in the country, and the Volvo V40 breaks into the Top 5 for the first time, up 4 spots on February to #5 with 270 sales and 2.5%. Notice also the Mitsubishi Ooutlander down to #12 but still #5 year-to-date vs. #28 in 2012, the Mercedes A-Class at #14 vs. #93 over the Full Year 2012, the Opel Mokka up to #18 and the Mitsubishi Space Star landing at #39.

Previous month: Norway February 2013: Nissan Leaf up to world-best 5th place

One year ago: Norway March 2012: VW Golf reclaims pole position

Full March 2013 Top 50 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.

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Ford Transit Custom

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new Light Commercial Vehicles are down a worrying 20% year-on-year in March in Norway to 2,483 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 7,654 units, down 6% on 2012. The VW Transporter confirms it may be on track to topple the VW Caddy from the LCV crown this year, lodging a second consecutive month in pole position thanks to 342 sales and 13.8% (vs. 280 and 11.3% for the Caddy), which brings it only 16 units short of the Caddy year-to-date at 1,117 vs. 1,133.

Further down, the Toyota Hilux is up 4 spots on February to #7 with 97 sales and 3.9%, the Ford Transit Custom takes up and gains 6 ranks on last month to break into the Top 10 for the first time at #8 with 79 units and 3.2%, the Opel Vivaro is up 7 to #13 and the Mercedes Citan down 10 to #17.

Previous month: Norway LCV February 2013: Mercedes Citan stays strong

Full March 2013 Top 20 models Ranking Table below.

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Nissan Leaf

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 10 brands by clicking on the title! *

Whereas the rest of Europe is plunging into full-blown recession, new car sales in Norway are up an indecent 16% year-on-year in February to 11,322 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 22,961 units, up 11% on 2012. The VW Golf keeps the lead with 678 sales and 6% and is followed once again by the Mazda CX-5, magnificent in 2nd place at 497 units and 4.4% share, new records for the model in the country and by far its best performance in the world. Boosted by its new generation, the Toyota Auris is up 19 spots on January to land on the third step of the podium with 410 sales and 3.6%, also shooting up to #5 year-to-date vs. #11 in 2012…

Mazda CX-5

But the best performer this month in Norway is without a doubt the Nissan Leaf, improving on a record month of January to deliver its best ranking in the world so far at #5 with 287 sales and 2.5% which are also volume and share record for the model in Norway. The Mercedes A-Class is up 17 ranks on last month to go up to #6, the Mitsubishi Outlander is down 4 to a still very impressive #8, the Volvo V40 is up 3 to reach #9, its highest position so far in Norway and the Honda CR-V is up 2 to #12 vs. #59 over the Full Year 2012.

Previous month: Norway January 2013: Mazda CX-5 at world-best 2nd place!

One year ago: Norway February 2012: Toyota Avensis leads, Subaru XV & Nissan Leaf impress

Full February 2013 Top 20 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.

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Mercedes Citan

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After starting the year with a bang at +20% in January, the Norwegian Light Commercial Vehicle market is back to reality in February, down 2% year-on-year to 2,418 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 5,171 units, still up a healthy 8% on 2012. The VW Transporter takes the lead this month thanks to 346 sales and 14.3%, just above traditional leader the VW Caddy at 334 units and 13.8%. The Caddy nevertheless retains its pole position year-to-date at 16.5% share vs. 15% for the Transporter.

The Citroen Berlingo remains in third place with 177 sales and 7.3%, ahead of the Peugeot Partner at 153 units and 6.5%. Further down, notice the Mercedes Citan solid again at #7 with 80 sales and 3.3%, the Ford Ranger up 4 spots on last month to #12 and the Ford Transit Custom at #14 with 57 units and 2.4%.

Previous month: Norway LCV January 2013: Mercedes Citan up to #7

Full February 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Mazda CX-5

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 200 All-models/Top 10 brands! Click on title to see *

Norwegian new car sales are up a healthy 7% year-on-year in January to 11,639 registrations, and it is a very eventful month for the models ranking indeed! Below the VW Golf back to its traditional pole position with 733 sales and 6.3%, we find none other than the Mazda CX-5, up 7 spots on an already record #9 in December to reach an out-of-this-world – world-best actually – second place thanks to 490 sales and 4.2% share, making Mazda jump by 429% year-on-year as a brand. The CX-5′s previous world-best monthly ranking was #6 in New Zealand last April, with Australia and Japan the only other countries in the world where the small Mazda SUV has managed to break into the monthly Top 10.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Another exceptional performer this month is the new gen Mitsubishi Outlander, up 7 ranks on November to a fantastic 4th place at 392 units and 3.4%. Notice also the Nissan Leaf up 9 to #9, its best-ever ranking worldwide and second time within the Norwegian Top 10 after last October when it also hit #9. The Volvo V40 is down 2 spots to a still respectable #12 and the Honda CR-V is up 9 to #14 vs. #59 over the Full Year 2012.

Previous post: Norway Full Year 2012: VW Tiguan and Nissan Leaf impress

Previous month: Norway December 2012: Volvo V70 surprise leader

One year ago: Norway January 2012: BMW X3 and Nissan Leaf start with a bang

Full January 2013 Top 200 All-models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.

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Mercedes Citan

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Great start of the year for Light Commercial Vehicles sales in Norway, up a brilliant 20% year-on-year to 2,753 registrations. Passed by its big bro the VW Transporter last month, the VW Caddy reclaims its traditional pole position thanks to 519 sales for a huge 18,9% market share while the Transporter also excels at #2 with 429 units and 15.6%. Note that these two scores would allow the Caddy to rank #2 in the overall market below just the Golf and the Transporter to rank #4 in between the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota Yaris…

Now that the ranking is based on January only and not year-to-date, we welcome 3 new models within the Top 20: the Mercedes Citan is the most successful, landing directly at #7 with 100 sales and 3.6%, followed by the Ford Transit Custom at #13 with 61 units and 2.2% and the Ford Ranger at #16 with 40 sales and 1.5%.

Previous post: Norway LCV Full Year 2012: VW Caddy and Transporter tighten their grip

Full January 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Norwegian sales of VW Tiguan are up 46% in 2012

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 277 All-models ranking! Click on title to see, thanks thanks Øystein *

Because of a horrendous month of December (-19%), new car sales in Norway finish the year down 0.3% to 137,967 registrations. The VW Golf is the most popular model in the country for the 5th consecutive time but lodges its weakest market share since 2008 at 6,313 units and 4.6%, down 14% on 2011. It was #1 every month except December (Volvo V70), June (Ford Focus) and February (Toyota Avensis). In fact all models on the podium see their sales drop this year: the Ford Focus is up one spot to #2 but down 4% and the VW Passat is down 10% at #3.

The Toyota Yaris doubles its sales in Norway this year

The most impressive performer in Norway this year is the VW Tiguan, up 9 ranks and 46% to rank #4 with 3,879 sales and 2.8%. It reached a best-ever #2 spot in April. Two additional models gain ground in the Top 10 this year: thanks to the new generation and the new hybrid variant, sales of Toyota Yaris simply double this year to 3,715 units at #7, and the Volvo V60 is up 3 spots and 8% to #9 with 2,860 sales.

Norway is the only country in the world where the Nissan Leaf broke into the monthly Top 10

Four models break into the year-end Norwegian Top 20 for the first time in 2012. Launched at the end of 2011, the Nissan Leaf has fully benefited from the preferential treatment given to low-emission vehicles in Norway: it ranks #13 for its first full year of sales at 2,298 units and 1.7% and even broke into the Top 10 of any market in the world for the first time here in Norway last October at #9. The Toyota Prius surfs on the same wave (and is helped by the new + version): it gains 59%to #14 and even ranked #3 in September!

Subaru XV

The Subaru XV lands directly at #15 with 2,191 sales, peaking at #6 in August and September. Finally the BMW X3 is up 19 ranks to #16. Brand-wise, Volkswagen remains the clear leader at around 15% market share and even monopolises the Norwegian podium twice this year: in April and November. Toyota is #2 at 12.3% (+11%), while Volvo passes Ford at 8.4% (-4%) vs. 8% (-15%). Mitsubishi, #7 last year, disappears from the Top 10 because of the ASX at -52%, Audi is up 13% to #5, BMW up 16% to #6, Nissan up 14% to #8 and Mercedes up 24% to #10. Outside the Top 10, notice Kia up a huge 88% at #12, Subaru up 50% and Mazda up 66%.

Previous post: Norway December 2012: Volvo V70 surprise leader

Previous year: Norway Full Year 2011: VW Golf and Passat lead, Mitsubishi ASX at world best

Full Year 2012 Top 277 All-models and Top 20 brands Ranking Tables below.

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Volvo V70

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 100 best-selling models! Click on title to see, thanks Øystein *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

New car sales in Norway are down a painful 19% year-on-year in December to 9,369 registrations, bringing the Full Year 2012 total into negative at 137,967 units (-0.3%). Surprise in pole position: the Volvo V70 takes the lead with 454 sales and 4.8% share, 4 units above the traditional Norwegian leader the VW Golf at 454. This is the first time in at least 3 years that a Volvo is #1 in the monthly ranking in Norway and enables the V70 to finish the year at #5 like in 2011. The Ford Focus is up 3 spots to round up the podium at 3.3% share, ahead of the Volvo XC60 up a massive 14 ranks to #4. Notice also the Volvo V60 up 2 to #6 and the Skoda Octavia up 12 to #8.

Mazda CX-5

But the biggest performer this month in Norway is without contest the Mazda CX-5, up a huge 19 spots to break into the monthly Top 10 for the first time at #9 with 226 sales and 2.4%. The Volvo V40 holds itself within the Top 10 for the 2nd month running at #10 and the Mitsubishi Outlander stays #11. Mercedes has two models in the Top 15: the B-Class at #14 (+9) and the C-Class at #15 while it was outside the Top 30 last month. There is also the A-Class at #21 vs #93 in the Full Year… The Citroen C4 Aircross is down just one rank to #31, the Mercedes GLK up to #39 and the Opel Mokka at #65.

Full Year post: Norway Full Year 2012: VW Tiguan and Nissan Leaf impress

Previous month: Norway November 2012: Podium 100% Volkswagen

One year ago: Norway 2011: VW Golf and Passat lead, Mitsubishi ASX at world best

Full December 2012 Top 100 models and Top 10 brands Ranking Tables below.

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