Germany September 2017: BMW 5 Series and Skoda Fabia shine

The BMW 5 Series is up 119% to 4th place overall in September.

* See the Top 48 brands and Top 328 models by clicking on the title *

The German new car market is down 3.3% year-on-year in September to 288.035 registrations, but the year-to-date total remains in positive territory at 2.611.821 units, up 2.2% on the same period in 2016. Once again market leader Volkswagen is in difficulty at -8% but slots a market share higher than its YTD level at 18.5% vs. 18.3%. Mercedes (-2%) beats the market slightly but drops below 10% share for the first time since last June to 9.8%. BMW (+4%) and Opel (-0.3%) both bypass Audi (-9%) to rank 3rd and 4th respectively. Skoda (+12%) is the only carmaker to lodge a double-digit gain in the Top 15, overtaking Ford for 6th place overall, its highest ranking in Germany since December 2012. Hyundai (+9%) is up two spots on August to a splendid 8th place, frankly outselling Renault (-6%). Lexus (+10%), Subaru (+13%) Dacia (+27%), Suzuki (+43%), Chevrolet (+45%), Bentley (+49%), Lada (+53%) and Aston Martin (+250%) are among the biggest gainers in the remainder of the ranking.

For the first time in history, Skoda places two nameplates in the German Top 6.

The VW Golf unsurprisingly tops the German charts, following the market at -2% for a very solid 7.6% share vs. 6.5% so far in 2017. It’s a podium 100% Volkswagen with the Tiguan (-18%) in 2nd place and the Passat (-9%) at #3, this while the Polo, down 48% to #21, drops to #5 year-to-date in the midst of its generation changeover. The BMW 5 Series is the hero of the month, more than doubling its sales year-on-year at +119% to step up 10 spots on August to #4 overall. Skoda places the Octavia at #5 (+6%) and the Fabia at #6 (+11%): according to BSCB records the first time in history that two Skoda nameplates appear in the monthly Top 6 in Germany. If the Octavia is now almost a regular in the German Top 5 (third time this year) and has a personal best of #4 in March 2016, reversely the Fabia hasn’t ranked this high since March 2011 (#6) while its personal best remains #2 in February and September 2009 when aggressive scrappage schemes turned the German sales charts on their head. Then, the Octavia barely managed to break into the Top 20.

First appearance of the VW T-Roc in its home sales charts. 

The Mercedes C-Class is down 21% to #7 but remains #2 year-to-date for now. Exceptional performance of the Mercedes GLC, doubling down on its very first Top 10 ranking last month (#6) with a 9th place in September (+93%). The Opel Insignia is up 98% to #20, the Hyundai i20 up 30% to #28 vs. #46 YTD and the i30 up 36% to #33 vs. #49 YTD. Among recent launches, the Opel Grandland X is up 133 spots to #107, the VW Arteon up 38 to #122 and the Kia Stonic up 61 to #156. Finally, we welcome two (promising) nameplates in the German charts in September: the Skoda Karoq at #194 and the VW T-Roc at #207.

Previous month: Germany August 2017: Mercedes GLC and Seat Leon break records

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

Full September 2017 Top 48 brands and Top 328 models below.