Europe August 2012: Peugeot 208 on podium, Audi #2 brand!

Peugeot 208

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

New car sales are getting weaker by the month in Europe, with August down 8% year-on-year to 726,562 registrations and the year-to-date total now down 7% on 2011 at 8,610,605 units. Like last month, all models bar two see their sales fall by more than 10% year-on-year in August. The VW Golf keeps the pole position with 29,056 units (-13%), nearly double the sales of the #2, little sister VW Polo at 16,996 (-22%). After breaking into the European Top 10 for the very first time in July at #5, the Peugeot 208 continues to kick goals and climbs onto the podium this month at #3 thanks to 14,721 sales.

Audi A4

This means the 208 is already #2 in its class below the Polo and ahead of the Opel Corsa (-21%), Ford Fiesta (-27%) and Renault Clio (-16%). The VW Passat reappears in the Top 10 for the first time since last May at #8 with 11,727 units (-25%) while the Audi A4 does so for the first time since January 2009 and the 6th time ever at #10 with 11,226 sales (+4%), boosted by a very strong performance in Germany.

In fact, this month Audi manages to shoot up to second place overall in the brands ranking behind only Volkswagen with 47,507 units and a very impressive 6.5% market share, up 9% year-on-year and the only brand in the Top 10 with Mercedes to see its sales increase vs. 2011…

Previous month: Europe July 2012: Peugeot 208 in Top 10 for the first time at #5

One year ago: Europe August 2011: Ford Focus on podium for the first time in 3 years

Full August 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.