Germany 2001: #2 not an Opel for the first time in 18 years!

Mercedes C Class

* See the Top 100 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Thanks Florian for the data *

The German car market slows down its decline this year at -1% and 3,341,718 registrations. No surprise at #1: the VW Golf holds on tight to its title of Germany’s best-selling car at 272,737 sales and 8.2% share, down 9%.

Big event in 2nd place: since 1983 it had always been reserved to Opel’s Golf-fighter: first the Kadett, then the Astra. Not so anymore: this year the Mercedes C Class is #2 thanks to sales up 36% 156,872 units and 4.7% share… This would remain the nameplate’s highest volume ever. The BMW 3 Series is stable at #3 with 147,265 units, also passing the Opel Astra, down to #4 at 144,183 sales and already threatened by the VW Passat, up 36% to 139,203 units.

Audi A2

The Peugeot 206 is the best-selling import for the very first time at #16 with 50,413 sales and 1.5%, it even ranks #9 in December with 5,045 units changing hands, only the second foreign model in the last 10 years with the Renault 19 to break into the monthly German Top 10. The Fiat Punto (#19) and Renault Twingo (#22) follow. Notice the Skoda Fabia up 23 spots to #24 at 39,128 units and the Audi A2 up to #32 with 26,434 sales and 0.8%, the best year-end position it would ever reach in Germany.

Full Top 100 Ranking Table below.