Germany March 2012: Polo above 10,000 units, BMW 1 Series #5

VW Polo

* See the Top 311 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The German car market continues to resist pretty well, down just 3% year-on-year in March to 339,123 registrations, which brings the year-to-date total to 773,636 units, down 1% on 2011. The VW Golf delivers its best volume in 6 months at 26,481 sales and 7.8% while the VW Polo breaks the 10,000 monthly units for the first time for this generation with 10,352 sales and 3.1%, the nameplate’s last time being May 2009 right in the middle of scrappage schemes. Since October 2009, it is only the 2nd time after the VW Passat sold 10,052 units in May 2011 that a model other than the Golf is above 10,000.

BMW 1 Series

The VW Passat ranks #3 at 8,860 units and 2.6%, meaning Volkswagen monopolises the podium for the third time in a row and the 6th time in the last 12 months. Possibly helped by the GTC version, the Opel Astra is back up to #4 for the first time this year with 8,522 sales and 2.5% and is now also #4 year-to-date like in 2011. The new generation BMW 1 Series takes off and is up 14 spots on February to #5 at 7,123 units and 2.1%, its best ranking since January 2009 and highest volume since June 2009.

VW Tiguan

Before this year, the VW Tiguan had only managed to climb into the German monthly Top 10 twice in the nameplate’s 4 years life: in January and February 2011. In March, it ranks #7 with 6,120 sales and 1.8%, its third time in a row as part of the 10 best-selling models in the country! The new generation BMW 3 Series continues to grow, up 3 ranks on last month to #8 at 6,086 units.

Nissan Qashqai

Another model reaches never-seen-before heights: the Nissan Qashqai, up 12 spots on February to a best-ever 15th place with 5,211 sales, also its highest ever volume in the country. Previous bests were #18 in January 2011 and 4,638 in March 2011. The Qashqai also beat its highest position in France this month, reached its highest volume ever in the UK and as a result should rank higher than ever in the overall European ranking, soon to be published.

Ferrari 599 GTB

Further down the ranking, notice the VW Up! at #23 and 4,003 sales, its first time above 4,000, the Toyota Yaris up 19 spots to #30, Fiat Ducato up 30 to #35, Audi Q3 up 2 to a best-ever #43 and Mazda CX-5 up to #105 with 799 sales for its second month. The Peugeot 208 makes its very first appearance at #147 with 372 units, while the Lamborghini Aventador sells 8 units at #283, its best month so far, the Maybach is #300 with 2 units as is the Alfa Romeo 8C and the Ferrari 599 GTB sells just one unit.

Previous month: Germany February 2012: VW Polo, Tiguan and Audi A6 strong

One year ago: Germany March 2011: Opel Astra and Skoda Fabia shine

Full March 2012 Top 311 Ranking Table below.