Germany September 2012: Mercedes B-Class on podium!

Mercedes B Class

* See the Top 302 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

The European recession has now caught up with Germany as well, with new car sales down 11% year-on-year in September to 250,082 registrations, which brings the year-to-date total to 2,358,798 units, down 2% on 2011. Below the VW Golf still reigning supreme at 21,763 sales and 8.7% – its strongest share since January – in spite of the imminent arrival of the 7th generation, the VW Passat reclaims its traditional 2nd spot with 6,229 units and 2.5%.

Mini Countryman

The Mercedes B-Class new generation continues to impress and delivers the biggest event of the month by landing on the German monthly podium for the very first time in the nameplate’s 7 year-career at #3 with 5,801 sales and 2.3%. Its previous best was #5 in July and August 2012 and this is the B-Class’ 2nd best market share ever below the 2.4% it reached last month and equal with July 2012 while its Its volume record still stands at 6,364 (in November 2006).

BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series also shines, up 10 spots on August to #4 with 5,704 units and 2.3%, now ranking #10 year-to-date vs. #15 in 2011. The is the 1 Series’ second highest ranking ever in Germany behind the third place it held in January 2009 and the 2nd time it reaches that level in the last 4 months. Below the Mercedes C-Class down one rank to #5, the Opel Corsa takes the lead of its category at #6 given the VW Polo is down 10 spots on August to a surprisingly low #16.

Skoda Octavia

There are two other outstanding performers this month: the Skoda Octavia is up 8 ranks to break into the monthly Top 10 for the first time since I have access to monthly German rankings in 2002! It sells 4,649 units for a 1.9% market share and ranks #15 year-to-date. The Mini for its part is up a massive 18 spots to hit its highest monthly ranking in Germany since the 2000 relaunch at #14 with 4,106 sales and 1.6%. This is the Mini’s second biggest volume below the scrappage scheme fuelled 4,363 it reached in June 2009 and its highest ever market share equal with December 2011…(Note these figures include Mini Countryman sales)

Opel Mokka

The Ford Kuga is up 28 ranks to #24 vs. #43 year-to-date, the BMW X1 is up 5 to #26, the Mercedes A-Class up 31 to #27, the Mercedes GLK lodges another excellent month at #32 vs. #53 year-to-date, the Skoda Citigo breaks into the German Top 50 for the first time, up 24 spots to #47, the BMW X5 is up 36 to #73 while the BMW 7 Series is up 33 to #89.

Toyota GT86

The two best-selling foreign models are only ‘half-foreign’: the Skoda Octavia (#9) and Fabia (#17) are followed by the Toyota Yaris at #25 (+20), the Skoda Yeti at #28 (+10), the Nissan Qashqai at #29 (+5), the Renault Megane at #30 (+9) and the Seat Ibiza at #31 (-6). Finally, two newcomers take off this month: the Opel Mokka is up 103 ranks to #95 with 660 sales while the Toyota GT86 is up a huge 193 spots to #99 at 635 units.

Previous month: Germany August 2012: Audi A4 up to #2, Opel Mokka lands

One year ago: Germany September 2011: Mercedes A-Class at highest in 6 years

Full September 2012 Top 302 Ranking Table below.