Spain August 2015: Opel Astra surprise best-seller

2015 Opel Astra

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 275 All-models by clicking on the title *

The Spanish new car market celebrates two full years (24 consecutive months) of year-on-year gains in August at +24% to 56.508 registrations, lifting the year-to-date total up 23% to 718.629 units. This is the strongest August result since the 58.995 units clocked up in 2009, however let’s keep in mind the all-time August record of 2005 is almost double this year’s result (105.064) and the August total in each the 12 years before 2009 was above this year’s score. Out of the wood: yes, totally back on track: not yet. Volkswagen remains the most popular brand in the country despite sales up slower than the market (+17%), while Opel (+19%) is up 5 spots on June to #2, distancing Peugeot (+31%) and Renault (+32%) both very dynamic. Further down, Toyota up 39% to #6, Nissan up 60% to #10, Kia up 34% to #11 and Mercedes up 30% to #13 all impress. Notice also Skoda (+36%), Mazda (+52%), Volvo (+46%), Lexus (+118%), Jeep (+299%), Suzuki (+57%), Smart (+158%) and Jaguar (+190%) posting spectacular gains.

Renault Mégane sales are up 69%, Peugeot 308 sales up 61%.

The Spanish models ranking is turned upside down this month: boosted by runout prices for the outgoing generation and the new model landing into dealerships, the Opel Astra surges 54% year-on-year and 8 spots on June to brilliantly become the most popular nameplate in the country in August with 1.657 sales and 2.9%, only 14 units above the Dacia Sandero (-1%) with the VW Golf (+50%) rounding up the podium. Other impressive performers inside the Top 10 include the Nissan Qashqai (+41%), Peugeot 208 (+56%), Renault Mégane (+69%) and Peugeot 308 (+61%) while the Toyota Auris is up 5 ranks on July to #6.

The Hyundai Tucson already ranks #27 in Spain.

The Seat Ibiza drops to 5th place overall and is now only 158 units below its compact stable mate the Leon for the 2014 pole position at 23.242 deliveries vs. 23.400. Further down, notice the Renault Captur (+43%), Toyota Yaris (+79%), Opel Mokka (135%), Peugeot 2008 (+45%) and Mercedes GLA (+43%) all lodging substantial year-on-year gains – four out of these five models being crossovers. Among recent launches, the Hyundai Tucson takes off 68 spots on its inaugural month in July to a splendid 27th spot, doubling its sales to 594 and instantly becoming the Korean brand’s best-seller in Spain above the ix35 it replaces (#40 and 500 sales, -38%). The Renault Kadjar is down 21 ranks to #64, the Mazda CX-3 is up 36 spots to break into the Spanish Top 100 for the first time at #95, the Suzuki Vitara is up 33 ranks to a record #108, the Jaguar XE is down 11 to #118 and the Ssangyong Tivoli up 22 to #149.

Previous month: Spain June 2015: VW Golf surges to pole position

One year ago: Spain August 2014: Dacia Sandero triumphs

Full August 2015 Top 45 All-brands and Top 275 All-models below.