Germany March 2013: Skoda Octavia hits highest ever ranking

Skoda Octavia

* See the Top 280 All-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

That’s it. The heavyweight of European new car sales is now officially in recession: the German market is down a horrid 17% year-on-year in March to 281,184 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 673,957 units, down 13% or 100,000 units on 2012… The VW Golf holds tight on its pole position and improves its market share to 7.8% thanks to 21,969 sales. Excellent showing of the BMW 3 Series up one spot on February to #2 at 6,830 units and 2.4%. This is the second time in the last 12 months (after April 2012) the 3 Series hits the 2nd spot overall and only the third time in the last 4 years (since December 2008). The VW Polo rounds up the podium ahead of the Passat with the Tiguan at a solid #6.

BMW 3 Series

Very strong month for the BMW 1 Series up 10 ranks on February to reach #5 with 5,964 sales and 2.1%, its 4th time in the German Top 5 in the last 12 months. The Mercedes A-Class at #7 (+1), Audi A3 at #8 (+5) and Ford Fiesta at #10 (+13) also hold very well. But the big event in the Top 10 is the Skoda Octavia up 7 spots on last month to land at a best-ever #9 with 5,098 units and 1.8%, a ranking it also reached last September. Seems like the new generation is already having a positive impact. Can the Octavia break into the Top 5? Answer in the next few months…

Fiat Ducato: coming to you all across Europe this summer (but mainly in Spain and Croatia)…

Far below the Octavia, there are 7 additional foreign models in the Top 30 this month: the Skoda Fabia at #21, Nissan Qashqai at #22 (+9), Seat Ibiza at #25 (+7), Seat Leon/Altea/Toledo – KBA unfortunately doesn’t separate sales of these 3 models – at #26 (+9), Renault Twingo at #27 (-1), Hyundai i30 at #28 (-9) and Fiat Ducato at an impressive 30th position with 2,793 sales (+23), which I suspect is the first batch of motorhomes sold in anticipation of the European summer already…

Opel Adam

Futher down, the two all-new Opel models are starting to get traction: the Mokka is up 12 ranks to #35 with 2,314 sales and 0.8% and the Adam breaks into the Top 50 for the first time at #49 with 1,723 units and 0.6%, up 48 spots on February. Notice also the Mercedes CLA up 50 ranks to #126 and the all-new Mitsubishi Mirage landing directly at #128.

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Previous month: Germany February 2013: VW Tiguan and Hyundai i30 impress

One year ago: Germany March 2012: VW Polo above 10,000 units, BMW 1 Series #5

Full March 2013 Top 280 All-models Ranking Table below.