Germany September 2016: Mercedes soars 26% in market up 9%

Mercedes sales are up 26% year-on-year at home in September. 

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German new car sales are up a very satisfying 9% year-on-year in September to 298.002 registrations, lifting the year-to-date tally up 6% or almost 150.000 units to 2.555.783. Market leader Volkswagen gains less ground than the market at +2%, resulting in a reduced 19.5% market share vs. 20% year-to-date. It distances Mercedes soaring 26% to 28.700 deliveries and 9.6% share, BMW up 9% to 8% and Audi up a disappointing 3% to just 7.6% share vs. 8.9% so far this year. Year-to-date, Mercedes widens the gap with Audi at 235.828 sales vs. 227.684 with BMW at a fair distance (196.193).

The VW Tiguan is up 22% to #2 while its twin the Seat Ateca breaks into the Top 100. 

In the mass market brand fight, Opel (7%) is back above Ford (+18%) with Skoda slower at +4. Hyundai (-21%) disappoints and Renault surges up 47% to #9. Further down, Smart (+17%), Mitsubishi (+22%), Toyota (+23%), Kia (+23%), Dacia (+30%), Mini (+35%). Fiat (+36%) and Land Rover (+60%) take off, while among small-volume brands Alfa Romeo (+131%) gets a Giulia-induced boost, Tesla (+183%) is lifted by the Model X, Infiniti (+190%) by the Q30 and Bentley (+159%) by the Bentayga.

The Volvo 90 Series is now just outside the German Top 150. 

Volkswagen monopolises the models podium for the 5th time this year but the first time since last May with the Golf plunging 17% to 22.244 sales ahead of the Tiguan up 22% to 7.660 and the Passat down 3% to 6.778, remaining above the Mercedes C-Class at 6.752 (+9%). The VW Polo (+22%) and Opel Astra (+10%) are solid just below whereas the Audi A4 disappoints at just +4% despite a new generation. The Skoda Fabia gains 13% to remain inside the Top 10, the Mini (all models) is up 35% year-on-year and 10 spots on last month to #11 with the BMW 3 Series up 13 to #12 and the brand’s best-seller above the 1 Series (#14) and 2 Series (#17).

The Audi Q2 makes its first appearance in the German charts. 

Spectacular gainers inside the Top 50 include the VW Touran up 165% to #13 thanks to a new generation, the Ford Kuga up 174% to #15, Mercedes A-Class up 69%, VW Transporter up 76%, Mercedes GLC up 92% on the GLK, BMW X1 up 15-fold on its September 2015 score, Hyundai i20 up 91%, Renault Mégane up 146% and Renault Clio up 93%. Among recent launches, the Seat Ateca breaks into the Top 100 for the first time at #90 (+82 on August), the Volvo S/V90 is up 79 ranks on August to #152, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is up 26 to #188, the Toyota Proace up 71 to #189 and the Tesla Model X up 55 to #195, all three making their first appearance inside the German Top 200. We welcome four newcomers in the German sales charts in September: the Audi Q2 leads the way at #165 but should climb much further up the ranking very shortly, the Citroen C-Elysee lands at #216, the Cadillac XT5 at #279 and the Cadillac CT6 at #291.

Previous month: Germany August 2016: Mercedes > Audi but A4 beats Passat and C-Class

One year ago: Germany September 2015: Podium 100% VW, Hyundai Tucson shoots up

Full September 2016 Top 50 brands and Top 322 All-models below.