Spain April 2017: Seat surges 43% to take year-to-date lead

Seat is up 43% and the Ibiza up 47% at home in April. 

* See the Top 42 All-brands and Top 285 All-models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Spain are up a meagre 1.2% year-on-year in April to 102.106 units, the largest tally for the month since 2008 (123.620), leading to a year-to-date total of 411.706 units, also the highest after 4 months since 2008 (471.382) and up 6.1% on the same period last year. April’s gain is almost entirely artificial though, as private sales freefall 14.5% to 45.384 and 44.4% share vs. 52.6% a year ago whereas sales to rental companies are up 36% to 28.634 and business sales up 4.9% to 28.077

Local carmaker Seat surges 43% to 10.497 sales and 10.3% share, also claiming the year-to-date top spot off Opel at 34.882 (+28%) vs. 32.628 (-0.3%). Peugeot gains 10% to land in second place, distancing Opel (-2%), Volkswagen (-17%) and Renault (-4%), brand leader over the Full Year 2016 but down to #5 this year so far. Mercedes (+33%) is the biggest gainer in the Top 10 while beyond, notice BMW (+24%), Volvo (+10%), Jaguar (+23%) and Infiniti (+56%) among the rare double-digit gainers.

Model-wise, the top three best-sellers clearly beat the market: the Seat Ibiza surges 47% to 4.950 sales and 4.8% share vs. 3.4% year-to-date (+23%), ahead of the Seat Leon (+16%) and Opel Corsa (+53%). Below, the VW Polo (-7%), Renault Clio (-7%) and VW Golf (-20%) struggle. The Peugeot 2008 is up 23% to #10, the Fiat 500 up 65% to #11, the Citroen C3 is boosted up 74% to #12 by the new gen model and the Mercedes A-Class is up 122% to #18. The Seat Ateca is down 7 spots on last month to #17 just as the very first two Seat Arona get registered this month.

Previous month: Spain March 2017: VW Polo leads, Seat Ateca breaks into Top 10

One year ago: Spain April 2016: Market back in positive (+21%), VW back to #1

Full April 2017 Top 42 All-brands and Top 285 All-models below.