Europe October 2012: Peugeot 208 #3, Fiat Panda back in Top 10

Peugeot 208

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New car sales in Europe slow down their decline in October at -5% year-on-year to 1,002,167 registrations, boosted by solid performance from the UK (+12%) and Germany (+0.5%). The year-to-date total now stands at 10,743,205 units, down 7% on 2011. While the transition into the 7th generation of the model is a little wobbly in some smaller countries (namely Switzerland and Austria), the VW Golf holds onto its European pole position in October with a comfortable margin at 33,156 sales, down 10% year-on-year. The Golf has now been #1 in Europe for 31 consecutive months (since April 2010) and for 48 of the last 50 months… The Ford Fiesta, the only other model to have managed to rank #1 on the continent in the last 4 years (in March 2009 and 2010), is #2 in October at 26,145 units (-1%) and year-to-date at 264,122 (-12%).

Fiat Panda

The Peugeot 208 is back up 2 spots on September to take the third spot for the 2nd time in the last 3 months with 23,352 sales, its strongest monthly result so far. The last time a Peugeot ranked #1 in Europe was in March 2008 when the 207 sold a huge 46,500 units. The 208 manages to stay above the Renault Clio, but just: at 23,308 units the Clio is only 2% down year-on-year at up 3 ranks on last month to #4. Energised by a record performance in Italy where it lodged a 10%+ market share for the first time since 1989, the Fiat Panda reappears in the European Top 10 for the first time since last May with 17,377 sales.

Audi A3. Audi sales are up 10% year-on-year in Europe in October.

Brand-wise, Volkswagen continues to dominate the European ranking head and shoulders, posting smaller declines than the market both in October at 133,319 sales (-0.5%) and year-to-date at 1,381,193 (-3%). Ford is #2 at -7%, Renault is back up to #3 after a disastrous month of September (#7) but is still down a dangerous 24% year-on-year. Opel/Vauxhall is down to #5 while the only two brands in progression among the Top 10 are premium ones: Audi is up 10% at #6 and Mercedes is up 4% at #10, with BMW not doing too badly either at #8, down a mere 1% year-on-year.

Previous month: Europe September 2012: Toyota Yaris in Top 10, market down 11%

Previous full ranking: Europe 7 months 2012: Now available with Top 325 models!

One year ago: Europe October 2011: VW Polo back to 2nd place

Full October 2012 Top 10 models and brands Ranking Tables below.