Germany September 2013: Skoda Octavia up to all-time high #5

The Skoda Octavia breaks into the German Top 5 for the very first time this month…

* See the Top 300 All-models and Top 50 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Germany are down a very reasonable 1% year-on-year in September to 247,199 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,217,019 units, down 6% on 2012. Below the VW Golf still sovereign at 8.1% share, the BMW 3 Series is up to second place for the 2nd time this year after last March and only the 4th time in the last 6 years (add December 2008 and April 2012). If it continues at this rate, the 3 Series could threaten the VW Passat – back up to #3 this month – for the overall 2013 second position. The Opel Corsa has an exceptionally good month, up 7 ranks on August to #4 with 5,511 sales and 2.2% share.

The BMW 3 Series is #2 in Germany for the 2nd time this year.

The big news this month is in 5th place: the Skoda Octavia, boosted by the new generation of the model, is up 11 spots to reach its all-time high monthly ranking in Germany thanks to 5,436 units sold for a 2.2% share. There are two long-term trends at play here: first the steady improvement of the Octavia sales over the years in Germany: if we look at the model’s progression over the past 10 years or so, it is quite impressive: from #30 in 2002 to #20 in 2005, #17 in 2006, #18 from 2008 to 2011 and a best-ever #17 in 2012, it is #16 so far in 2013. For over 5 years its best monthly ranking in Germany was #12 hit in February 2007, before the Octavia broke into the German Top 10 for the first time exactly one year ago in September 2012 at #9 and reached that position again last March.

Hyundai i30 is up to #22 this month

The second long-term trend at play is the more and more extreme segmentation of the German new car market, which only the VW Golf not affected by it with a glorious 8.1% share. If a 2.3% share is enough to get the VW Passat to third place this month, it would have earned it a poor 13th spot 10 years ago in September 2003. It may be easier for a model to hit #5 as a one-off as only 2.2% share is enough to do so for the Octavia… Other great performers this month in Germany include the Skoda Fabia up 4 ranks to #13, the Hyundai i30 up 10 spots to #22, the Fiat 500 solid at #27, Opel Adam up 25 to #31, Ford Kuga up 18 to #33, Peugeot 2008 up 19 to #79 (and now above the Renault Captur) and the Mercedes S-Class up 21 to #80 thanks to the new generation.

Alpina XD3

Among recent launches, notice the BMW 4 Series up 48 spots to #141 and the BMW i3 down 17 to #200. Finally, we welcome 3 new models in the German ranking in September: the Infiniti Q50 lands directly in 223rd place with 44 sales, the BMW 2 Series makes its very first appearance at #261 with 15 units sold whereas there are still no official photograph of the model available, and the Alpina XD3 has now its dedicated sales figure standing at 13 this month (#269) and 24 year-to-date.

Previous month: Germany August 2013: Audi A3 up to record 2nd place

One year ago: Germany September 2012: Mercedes B-Class on podium!

Full September 2013 Top 300 All-models and Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.