Spain April 2018: Seat Ibiza up to #1 YTD, market at highest in 10 years

The Seat Ibiza reclaims the helm of the Spanish models ranking despite dropping 12% YoY.

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 283 All-models by clicking on the title *

The Spanish new car market posts a third double-digit year-on-year gain in four months in April at +11.9% to 114.266 registrations, the highest score for the month since 2008 (123.620). Year-to-date volumes are up 10.8% to 456.279, here too the largest score at this stage of the year in ten years, since the 471.382 of 2008. The great news is that the market’s growth is solely fuelled by private sales this month, up a gigantic 19.1% to 54.040 or 47.3% share vs. 44.4% a year ago. Year-to-date, private deliveries are up 9.7% to 217.054, trailing the market slightly resulting in a lower share at 47.6% vs. 48%. Company sales are up 9.1% to 30.643 and 26.8% share vs. 27.5% in April 2017 but YTD they are up a splendid 15.9% to 130.668, pulling the market up and scoring a 28.6% share vs. 27.4% over the same period a year ago. Finally, rental sales edge up 3.3% to 29.583 units and 25.9% vs. 28% a year ago and up 7.3% to 108.557 and 23.8% vs. 24.6% YTD. Always a good sign when tactical sales such as rentals see their market share decrease.

The Dacia Sandero is up 44% to #3 this month in Spain.

This month local carmaker Seat is up four spots on March with sales up 4% year-on-year to 9.6% share to reclaim the brands pole position it holds YTD at 8.6% (+13%). Despite deliveries surging 29% to 8.4% share, Volkswagen drops to #2, a ranking it also holds YTD at 7.9% share (+15%). Peugeot (+15%) remains in third place, overtaking Renault (+19%) while Toyota posts the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10 at +40%, leaping up 7 spots on March to #5. Hyundai (+38%) and Kia (+29%) also perform extremely well in the Top 10, while beyond, Jeep (+97%), Tesla (+94%), Porsche (+79%), Mazda (+46%), Mitsubishi (+32%), Jaguar (+31%), Suzuki (+23%), Mini (+22%), Audi (+18%) and Dacia (+18%) make themselves noticed.

The Jaguar i-Pace makes its very first appearance in the Spanish sales charts.

Over in the models ranking, despite diving 12% year-on-year to 3.8% share, the Seat Ibiza is up five spots on March to top the sales charts, also snapping the YTD pole position off the Seat Leon, itself down 25% to #4. Leader last month, the VW Polo is knocked down to #2 but gains 27% on April 2017 just as the Dacia Sandero soars 44% year-on-year and 6 ranks on last month to #3. The Nissan Qashqai (+20%), Peugeot 2008 (+15%) and Renault Clio (+12%) also post double-digit gains inside the Top 10. Further down, the Fiat Tipo (+149%), Renault Captur (+67%), Toyota Yaris (+59%), Peugeot 3008 (+52%), VW Tiguan (+40%), Toyota C-HR (+39%), Kia Sportage (+32%) and Toyota Auris (+29%) all shine. Now that the Seat Arona (#19) celebrates one year in its home ranking, the Kia Stonic (#31, +7 on March) tops recent launches ahead of the VW T-Roc posting its first Top 50 finish at #35 (+25) and the Citroen C3 Aircross at #42 (+1). Finally, we welcome the Jaguar i-Pace in the Spanish charts at #255 with 5 units sold.

Previous month: Spain March 2018: VW Polo #1, Fiat 500 #1, sales at 11-year high

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

Full April 2018 Top 45 All-brands and Top 283 All-models below.