Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Renault Clio

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

From 16 October 2011 and until 31 March 2013, the Spanish government has put in place the PIVE plan (Programa de Incentivos para los Vehículos Eficientes), a 2,000€ rebate on the purchase of a low emission vehicle if you get rid of your 12+ year-old car, in what is the first scrappage scheme put in place by any European government since the end of the global financial crisis in 2010. October sales are now in and they are not great: in spite of the PIVE plan, Spanish car sales are down 21% year-on-year to 44,941 registrations, the 2nd lowest monthly figure in at least 20 years (possibly ever) after last month. The year-to-date total stands at 601,053 units, down 12%.

Seat Toledo

Boosted by the arrival of the 4th generation in dealerships across the country, the Renault Clio doubles its market share in Spain compared to last month and gains 13 spots to land in pole position with 1,532 sales and 3.4%. This is potentially the first time in 20 years that the Renault Clio takes the lead of the monthly models ranking in Spain! The Nissan Qashqai stays very solid at #2 with 3.1% followed by the Renault Megane at 2.9%, both models at the same ranking and share in October and year-to-date. The Seat Leon is up 5 ranks to #4 while the Seat Ibiza is down one to #5 but stays leader year-to-date with 21,029 sales and 3.5%.

Wait till the new generation Dacia Sandero hits Spanish dealerships…

The main beneficiary of the PIVE plan for now is the Dacia Sandero, down to a crazy 4,700€ and by far the cheapest new car currently on sale in Spain, and up a huge 18 spots on September to #7 at 1,125 units and 2.5% share. It is now #21 year-to-date vs. #38 in 2011. The Peugeot 208 is down one spot to #8,  the Toyota Yaris is up 14 to #12 and the Hyundai i30 up 11 to #19. Nnewcomer-wise, the new gen Seat Toledo is gaining speed, up 55 spots to #42 at 350 units, the Ford B-Max is up 24 to #55 with 245 sales and the Fiat 500 L is up 109 ranks to #101 at 99 units.

Previous month: Spain September 2012: Worst ever recorded month

One year ago: Spain October 2011: Seat Ibiza leads, Citroen C4 up to #6

Full October 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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The Seat 850 launched in 1966, the last time new car sales in Spain were so low.

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Whereas the Brazilian new car market was in uncharted “high” territory at above 400,000 registrations in August for the first time, new car sales in Spain are in uncharted “low” waters: down 37% year-on-year to just 35,206 registrations in September. This is the lowest ever recorded month in the country (I believe records started in the 1960s)… to be compared to a September all-time high of 111,619 units in 2005. All segments and channels are affected, with private sales down a horrendous 44% year-on-year and sales to companies down 29%. The implementation of a higher VAT on 01/09 has not helped an already devastated market.

BMW 1 Series – BMW places 2 models in the Spanish Top 10 this month

Year-to-date, the Spanish new car sales are down 11% to 556,095 units and predicted to fall below 700,000 by year-end for the first time since the mid-eighties. To stop this dramatic fall, the Spanish government will shorty launch the PIVE plan, a 2,000€ rebate on the purchase of a low emission vehicle if you get rid of your 12+ year-old car. This is the first scrappage scheme put in place by any European government since the end of the global financial crisis in 2010.

Renault Megane

Record-low volumes mean a much more volatile models ranking and it is indeed going crazy this month. The Renault Megane is in pole position for the third time in the last 2 years after September 2011 and May 2012 with 1,177 sales and 3.3% share, now ranking #3 year-to-date at 16,408 units and 3%. The Nissan Qashqai continues to evolve at stratospheric  heights, #2 both this month with 1,101 sales and 3.1% and year-to-date at 17,524 units and 3.2%.

BMW 3 Series

The biggest surprise this month is the landing on the podium for the first time in the history of Spanish car sales of the BMW 3 Series, up an out-of-this-world 34 spots on August to #3 with 893 sales and 2.5% share, and now #40 year-to-date… The Seat Ibiza is up one spot to #4 and stays #1 year-to-date thanks to 19,818 units and 3.6%, the Ford Fiesta is up 15 to #6 and the Peugeot 208 breaks into the Spanish Top 10 for the first time, up 26 ranks to #7 with 715 sales and 2%.

Seat Toledo

The BMW 1 Series also shines: it is up 31 spots to #10 at 636 units and 1.8%, which means BMW is the #6 best-selling brand in the country in September with a huge 6.6% market share vs. #12 and 3.4% year-to-date. Notice also the VW Passat up 10 ranks to #21, the Kia Sportage up 6 to #22, the Kia Cee’d up 9 to #31, the Mercedes B-Class up 14 to #33 and the BMW X6 up 54 to #116.

Citroen C-Elysee

A few newcomers impress this month: the new gen Mercedes A-Class is up 103 spots on August to #44, the Volvo V40 is up  88 to #53, the Citroen DS5 up 59 to #65 and the Citroen C4 Aircross up 103 to #78. The Seat Toledo is now seriously ramping up: going from #197 with 14 sales last month to #97 and 93 units in September. Finally we welcome two all-new models in the Top 200: the Ford B-Max lands directly at #79 with 137 sales while the Citroen C-Elysee ranks #161 with 27 units.

Previous month: Spain August 2012: Nissan Qashqai confirms pole position

One year ago: Spain September 2011: Renault Megane in pole position

Full September 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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Citroen Nemo

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

In July, sales of new ‘derivados’ (Light Commercial Vehicles derived from Passenger Cars) are down an alarming 24% year-on-year vs. -17% for the Passenger Car market. This brings the year-to-date total to 27,353 units, down 26% on 2011. The Renault Kangoo reclaims the top spot after leading in May thanks to 730 sales for a strong 19.3% market share, but still ranks #2 year-to-date at 4,831 units and 17.7% below the Citroen Berlingo, down to #3 in July, at 6,318 and 23.1% and above the Peugeot Partner, up to #2 this month, at 4,723 and 17.3%. Notice also the good scores of the Fiat Doblo at #7 and 5.5% and the Citroen Nemo at #8 and 4.1%.

Previous month: Spain LCV June 2012: Citroen Berlingo and Nissan NV200 in shape

Full July 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Nissan Qashqai

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

For the first time since last January, the Spanish new car market is up year-on-year, albeit by a shy 3.5% to 48,966 registrations, in anticipation of the VAT increase from 18% to 21% due in September. The year-to-date total now stands at 521,075 units, down 9% on 2011. At 1,584 sales and 3.2% share, the Nissan Qashqai manages to stay in pole position for the 2nd consecutive month, the first time it does so in Spain. It is the 4th time overall that the Qashqai dominates the Spanish models ranking after December 2010, January 2012 and July 2012. It is still #2 year-to-date however at 16,423 units and 3.2% behind the Seat Ibiza, down to #5 this month, at 19,008 sales and 3.6%.

Opel Astra

Exceptional performance of the Opel Astra up from #15 in June and #7 in July to second place in August with 1,468 units and 3%, potentially the nameplate’s best score in the country in a decade. The Astra is #10 year-to-date like in 2011. The Seat Leon also has an outstanding month, up 3 spots to round up the podium with 1,438 sales and 2.9%, ahead of the VW Golf stable at #4 with 1,381 units and 2.8%. Other great performers in the Top 10 include the Ford Focus up 5 ranks to #7 and the Toyota Auris up 12 to #9.

Tata Aria

Further down, notice the Hyundai ix35 up 2 spots to #15, the Dacia Sandero up 12 to #16, the Hyundai i30 up 6 to #19, the VW Tiguan up 10 to #20, the Dacia Duster up 24 to #25, the Audi Q3 up 3 to #30, the Opel Zafira Tourer breaking into the monthly Top 50 for the first time, up 28 ranks to #46 and the Dacia Lodgy up 33 to #55.

Seat Toledo

Even further down, the Toyota GT86 is up 23 spots to #167 with 28 units sold, the Peugeot 4008 breaks into the Top 200 for the first time at #180 with 22 sales and the Seat Toledo ranks #200 with 14 units. We welcome two newcomers this month in the Spanish models ranking: the Tata Aria lands at #185 with 20 units and the Fiat 500 L sells its first 6 units in the country.

Previous month: Spain July 2012: Nissan Qashqai leads in worst July in history

One year ago: Spain August 2011: Ford Focus edges past Seat Leon

Full August 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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Nissan Qashqai

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The situation is getting worse and worse in Spain, with July new car sales down 17% year-on-year to 65,481 registrations, the worst July on record in the country. Year-to-date sales are down 10% to 472,082 units. With the IVA tax on cars set to increase on September 1, predictions for the Full Year 2012 are now below 700,000 units or a level not seen in Spain since the mid-eighties. In this gloomy context, the Nissan Qashqai is the most popular model in the country for only the third time ever after December 2010 and January 2012 thanks to 1,940 sales for a 3% market share. It is #2 year-to-date at 3.1%.

Kia Sportage

Just 10 units below, the Seat Ibiza ranks #2 and stays in pole position year-to-date with 17,668 units and 3.7%. The Renault Megane is stable in third place with 1,862 sales and 2.8% and is also #3 year-to-date with 14,035 units and 3%. Other great performers in the Top 10 include the Opel Astra up 8 spots on June to #7 and the Renault Clio up 5 to #8. The Peugeot 208 slips down one rank to #11 but stays at 2% market share thanks to 1,294 sales.

Seat Mii

Further down, the Hyundai ix35 is up 11 spots to #17, the Kia Sportage up 16 to #22, the Audi Q3 up 15 to #33, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta up 23 to #37, the Kia Cee’d up 20 to #41 while the Seat Mii breaks into the Spanish Top 50 for the first time, up 20 ranks on June to #47 with 440 sales and 0.7%. Notice also the Dacia Lodgy up to #88, the BMW X6 up to #120, the Toyota Prius+ up to #125 and two newcomers in the Top 200: the Toyota GT86 at #190 and the Chevrolet Malibu at #200.

Previous month: Spain June 2012: Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 208 and Audi A1 resist

One year ago: Spain July 2011: Seat Ibiza and Leon on top

Full July 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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Nissan NV200

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

The Light Commercial Vehicle market is down 36% year-on-year in June to just 3,857 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 23,576 units, down 27% on 2011. The Citroen Berlingo is back to #1 with 781 sales and 20.2% share, still down from its 2012 year-to-date level (24.2%).

The Peugeot Partner is also up one spot to 2nd place at 683 units and 17.7% but stays #3 year-to-date at 17% behind the Renault Kangoo at 17.4%. Further down, notice the Nissan NV200 up to 6.6% share at #5 thanks to 256 sales, the Fiat Doblo up to #6 with 227 units and 5.9% vs. 4.4% year-to-date and the Opel Combo up to #9 with 3.5% vs. 1.9%.

Previous month: Spain LCV May 2012: Renault Kangoo in pole position

Full June 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Seat Ibiza

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

I wish I could bring you good news about Spanish new car sales in June but it is not the case: at -12% year-on-year, the market totals only 73,352 units, the first June below 80,000 sales in 20 years. At half-year, sales are down 8% to 406,581 units, here again its lowest level in 20 years and only 47% of the record 870,723 units reached in 2005. After falling down to #5 in April, the Seat Ibiza takes command of the models ranking again with 3,295 sales and 4.5% share, bringing its year-to-date total to 15,738 units and 3.9%. It is the 8th time in the last 12 months that the Ibiza ranks #1 in its native country.

Peugeot 208

In fact this month the models podium is identical to the 2012 year-to-date and Full Year 2011 rankings, with the Nissan Qashqai at #2 with 2,728 sales and 3.7% and the Renault Megane at #3 with 2,446 units and 3.3%. The Opel Corsa and VW Golf both drop one spot on May but stay solid at 3.2% share, well ahead of their 2012 YTD levels. Good performances of the Ford Focus (+6) and Citroen C4 (+5).

Audi A1

In June we welcome a new entrant in the Spanish Top 10: the Peugeot 208 is up 19 ranks on last month to land in 10th position with 1,475 sales and 2% share. Other great performances this month include the Audi A1 up a massive 19 spots to a record #18 with 1,053 sales and 1.4%, the Audi A4 up 17 to #19, the Skoda Yeti at #59, Seat Mii at #67 and Dacia Lodgy at #97.

Previous month: Spain May 2012: Renault Megane and VW Polo on top

One year ago: Spain June 2011: Seat Leon #1 for the first time!

Full June 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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Renault Kangoo

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

Only 3,843 new Light Commercial Vehicles found a buyer in Spain in May, down 28% on May 2011 and almost 50% on May 2010 when sales amounted to 7,131. Year-to-date the market is down 25% to 19,719 units. For the first time since last January, the Renault Kangoo tops the models ranking with 812 sales and 21.1% and is now #2 year-to-date at 3,456 units and 17.5%.

The Citroen Berlingo is down to #2 with 789 sales and 20.5% share but keeps the lead by far year-to-date at 4,916 units and 24.9%. The Peugeot Partner rounds up the podium in both rankings while the VW Caddy is back up to #4 with a solid 426 sales and an excellent 11.1% share.

Previous month: Spain LCV April 2012: Kangoo up to #2 in devastated market

Full May 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Renault Megane

* See the Top 200 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Still no sign of recovery for the Spanish car market: sales are down 8% year-on-year in May to 72,514 registrations, the second worst month of May in the last 20 years after the 71,168 units sold in May 2009. The year-to-date total stands at 333,316 units, down 7% on 2011. Full Year 2012 predictions are now at 750,000 units, half the 2006 figure of 1,634,595… In this morose context the Renault Megane takes the lead of the models ranking in May with 2,916 sales and 4%, potentially helped by its recent refresh. It is only the 2nd time in the last 2 years with September 2011 that the Megane is #1 in Spain. It is now #4 year-to-date vs.#3 in 2011.

VW Polo

The VW Polo improves on an already excellent month of April to reach a record 4% share in 2nd place at 2,889 units. Outstanding month also for the Opel Corsa up 4 spots to #3 and the VW Golf up 7 to #4. Traditional leader of the Spanish market, the Seat Ibiza is down to 5th place this month with just 2.6% share. It is still in pole position year-to-date however with 12,443 sales and 3.7% ahead of the Nissan Qashqai, down to #6  in May.

Seat Mii

Renault has a fabulous month: beyond the Megane, the Clio is up 7 spots on April to #11 and the Scenic is up 12 to #17. Other great performers include the Peugeot 3008 up 25 ranks to break into the Spanish Top 20 for the first time at #19, the VW Touran up 24 to #25 and the Smart Fortwo up 60 to #42. Note the Peugeot 208 down 7 spots to #29.

Seat Toledo

Further down, notice the Opel Zafira Tourer up 24 ranks to #56, the Chevrolet Spark up 100 to #62, the Seat Mii up 88 to break into the Spanish Top 100 for the first time at #66 with 317 sales, the Dacia Lodgy landing directly at #81 with 233 units and the Mazda CX-5 up 43 spots to #88. Lastly, this month we see the first unit of the new generation Seat Toledo registered.

Previous month: Spain April 2012: VW Polo up to #2 in worst market in 25 years

One year ago: Spain May 2011: Seat Ibiza, Opel Corsa and VW Polo strong

Full May 2012 Top 200 Ranking Table below.

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Renault Kangoo

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

The shape of the Light Commercial Vehicles market this year in Spain shows how bad the economic situation is for Small and Medium Entreprises in the country. Spanish LCV sales are down 31% year-on-year in April to 3,477 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 15,874 units, down 24% on 2011. The Citroen Berlingo is still in the lead with 716 sales but is followed this month by the Renault Kangoo at 693 units with the Peugeot Partner rounding up the podium with 681 sales. Notice also the Ford Transit Connect up to #4 with 250 units.

Previous month: Spain LCV March 2012: Citroen Berlingo shines

Full April 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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