Switzerland Full Year 2017: Skoda Octavia ends 23 year-long Golf reign

The Skoda Octavia puts an end to over two decades of VW Golf domination in Switzerland.

* See the Top 55 All-brands and Top 445 All-models by clicking on the title *

Consult 45 years worth of Switzerland Historical Data here

Going against the grain of the rest of Europe, Switzerland retracts for the second year running at -1% to 314.028 registrations. Although Volkswagen remains the brand leader, it tumbles down 15% to just 11.5% share vs. 13.3% a year ago, even coming just 157 sales off being toppled from the monthly pole position by Mercedes in February. Mercedes for its part advances 9% and one spot to leap to #2 and 8.3% share, overtaking BMW (+1%) while Audi (+5%) passes Skoda (-2%) to make it three premium Germans in the Top 4. Both Opel and Ford (+6% each) edge past Renault (-3%) to rank 6th and 7th respectively, with Seat (+19%) and Fiat (+18%) posting the biggest year-on-year gains in a Top 10 they break into this year. Further down, Alfa Romeo (+118%), Tesla (+19%) and Dacia (+15%) are the lone double-digit gainers in the remainder of the Top 30, with Lada (+200%), Aston Martin (+71%), Dodge (+52%), Chevrolet (+43%) and Maserati (+17%) among the most dynamic smaller brands.

The Mercedes GLC leaps up 61% to #7 overall in Switzerland in 2017. 

The Swiss models ranking is the theatre of a historical event this year: after missing out on the annual pole position by mere days in 2016, the Skoda Octavia manages to end 23 consecutive years of VW Golf reign in Switzerland despite sales tumbling down 15% to 3.2% share, but that’s a better hold than the Golf down 21% to 3%. The Octavia is the very first Skoda nameplate to top the Swiss annual ranking and is estimated to be only the 6th nameplate to rank #1 since World War Two after the VW Beetle (1948-1968), Opel Rekord, Kadett (1969-1974), VW Golf (1974-2017) and Opel Astra (1993). The VW Tiguan (+11%) overtakes the VW Polo (-19%) to leap up to the third step of the podium with the Mercedes C-Class (-1%) rounding up the Top 5 like in 2016. The Fiat 500 (+23%), Mercedes GLC (+38%) and BMW X1 (+14%) brilliantly storm into the Top 8 while the BMW 2 Series (-5%) and Audi A3 (+0.3%) make it five premium nameplates in the Top 10. Notice also the Opel Mokka (+26%), Ford Kuga (+24%), Dacia Sandero (+33%), Audi Q5 (+20%), Volvo XC60 (+20%), Mercedes E-Class (+131%) and BMW 5 Series (+60%) impressive in the Top 35. The Skoda Kodiaq (#34) is the best-selling all-new launch for 2017 above the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (#88) while the Audi Q2 ends its first full year of sales at #37.

Previous month: Switzerland November 2017: Mazda2 leaps up 266% to #4

Previous year: Switzerland Full Year 2016: VW Golf snatches last minute 23rd win

Two years ago: Switzerland Full Year 2015: VAG Group dominant, Mercedes up to #3

Full Year 2017 Top 55 All-brands and Top 445 All-models vs. Full Year 2016 figures below.

Full December 2017 Top 50 All-brands and Top 335 All-models below.