Switzerland October 2013: Skoda Octavia passes VW Golf to lead, Peugeot 308 up to 5th place

Skoda Octavia

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New car sales in Switzerland are up a shy 0.3% year-on-year in October to 26,626 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 252,892 units, down 7% on 2013. After teasing the VW Golf last month, the Skoda Octavia takes the advantage in October thanks to 1,218 sales and 4.6% share vs. 945 and 3.5% for the Volkswagen. This is the Octavia’s best-ever market share in the country, also reached last February, and the 5th time it ranks #1 in Switzerland in the last 13 months after September and October 2012, January and February 2013… Given it’s fair to assume the Golf had led the Swiss monthly rankings almost every month in the last two decades, we may be witnessing a very progressive change of guard here… If 2013 is a given for the Golf, 2014 could be the theatre of an intense fight for pole position between the two VAG Group models.

Peugeot 308

There are more interesting moves inside the Swiss Top 10 this month: the Peugeot 308, boosted by the arrival of the new generation, is up no less than 60 spots on September to land in 5th position thanks to 506 sales and 1.9%. The 308 is currently #60 year-to-date after ranking #54 in 2012 but the first generation 308 peaked at #22 in 2009 and its predecessor the Peugeot 307 ranked third overall in 2004, so there is a history of purchase of Peugeot compact cars in Switzerland which explains why the new 308 can rank that high already… The Suzuki SX4 for its part remains at an all-time high #6 thanks to 482 sales and 1.8%, new volume and share records for the nameplate.

Range Rover Sport

Further down, notice the Hyundai i20 up a further 3 ranks to #9 vs. #29 year-to-date, the BMW X3 up 12 to #15, the Mazda CX-5 maintaining itself inside the Swiss Top 20 for the third consecutive month at #19, the Fiat Panda up 31 to #33, the Renault Captur up 5 to a best-ever #43, Citroen C4 Picasso up 32 to #51, Peugeot 2008 up 21 to a record #55, the Range Rover Sport up from outside the Top 100 in September to #79 thanks to the new model and the BMW 4 Series landing at #100 with 82 sales.

Previous month: Switzerland September 2013: Skoda Octavia teases VW Golf, Suzuki SX4 up to #6, Mazda CX-5 #10

One year ago: Switzerland October 2012: Skoda Octavia holds onto pole position!

Full October 2013 Top 100 models and Top 37 brands Ranking Tables below.