Europe January 2016: VW down, Peugeot 208 & Opel Astra shine

The new model logically boosts Opel Astra sales up 50% in January. 

* See the Top 10 best-selling brands and Top 10 models by clicking on the title *

After two consecutive months of double-digit gains, the European new car market slows down in January yet still posts a vigorous 6% year-on-year improvement to 1.092.779 registrations. Still feeling the effects of its emissions scandal, Volkswagen is the only brand to lose ground in the Top 10 at -4%, it however stays #1 by far with 128.500 sales vs, 77.784 (+10%) for For at #2. Opel/Vauxhall posts a very encouraging 12% increase at 71.290 deliveries, distancing French carmakers Renault (+2%) and Peugeot (+3%). Audi leads the premium charge once again and also tops year-on-year gains at +14% vs. +9% for Mercedes (#7) and +5% for BMW (#8). Lifted by a dynamic home market, Fiat is up 14% in 9th position.

The Peugeot 208 is up 19% year-on-year in Europe this month. 

The VW Golf celebrates 70 consecutive months in the European pole position: the last time it did not rank #1 in Europe was in March 2010. A very impressive feat indeed, achieved despite sales down sharply at -8% to 37.449 units. The VW Polo is up two spots on both its December and FY2015 rankings to #2 with 24.845 sales followed by the Ford Fiesta (-3%) and Renault Clio (-4%) whereas the Peugeot 208 takes advantage of a strong showing at home in France (40% of its European sales) to leap up 19% to 5th place with 19.230 sales, the nameplate’s first Top 5 European ranking in a year.

European Fiat Panda sales are up 29% in January. 

The Opel Astra, boosted up 50% by the new generation, posts its best ranking since last August at #9 while the Fiat Panda is up 29% to #10 thanks to a very strong score at home in Italy where it secured 72% of its total European sales for the month. Notice also the Toyota Yaris up to #11 vs. #15 over the FY2015 and the Dacia Sandero up to #19 vs. #23.

Previous post: Europe Full Year 2015: Discover the Top 355 models and All-brands

Previous month: Europe December 2015: Now with Top 334 models and All-brands

Previous month (preliminary): Europe December 2015: Peugeot 308 up to #3 thanks to Dutch score

One year ago: Europe January 2015: Opel Corsa & Nissan Qashqai shoot up, Toyota Yaris in Top 10

Full January 2016 Top 10 brands and Top 20 models below.