Sweden April 2018: Volvo XC40 breaks into Top 10

First Top 10 ranking at home – and in the world – for the Volvo XC40.

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 265 All-models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Sweden shoot up 12.3% year-on-year in April to 34.215 registrations, enabling the YTD volume to get back into positive and record territory, up 1.4% to 121.612 units. Homegrown brand leader Volvo follows the market with a 13% again to 21.4% share vs. 22.6% so far in 2018, ahead of Volkswagen (+35%), Kia (+5%), Toyota (+36%) and Mercedes (+18%). In the remainder of the Top 10, only Nissan (+41%) outpaces the market while BMW (-9%) and Audi (-6%) post the steepest declines. Further down, Ssangyong (+305%), Jeep (+107%), Jaguar (+69%), Porsche (+46%), Subaru (+38%), Seat (+33%) and Mazda (+23%) are among the best performers.

Model-wise, the Volvo S/V90 surges 36% to tighten the iron grip it now holds on its home market, reaching 7.6% share vs. 9.1% (+45%) so far in 2018. The Volvo XC60 drops 30% year-on-year but is up one spot on March to #2 ahead of the VW Passat shooting up 70%, the Golf up 7% and the Tiguan up 58%. But the main event of the month is in 9th place: the Volvo XC40, recently elected 2018 Car of the Year, breaks into its home Top 10 for the first time thanks to 702 sales for a 2.1% share. It will be interesting to see whether the small crossover can go much higher in a market typically more fond of larger vehicles. For comparison the Volvo V40, launched in 2012, never managed a monthly podium ranking, with an all-time best of #4 hit in February 2013, March 2013, October 2014, February 2016 and December 2016, and peaked at an annual high of #5 in 2013 for its first full year of sales.

Notice also the Fiat Ducato (+10%) filling up on campervans before the Summer season, the Nissan Qashqai (+67%), Toyota Auris (+69%), Toyota C-HR (+38%), Mercedes A-Class (+120%), Toyota RAV4 (+44%), Mercedes GLC (+44%), Kia Optima (+232%), Kia Niro (+76%), Volvo XC90 (+38%) and Skoda Kodiaq (+40%) in order of ranking, all posting sizeable gains inside the Top 50, Alongside the Volvo XC40, other successful new launches include the VW T-Roc up 50 spots on March to #27, the Skoda Karoq up 20 to #42, the Kia Stonic up 10 to #47 and the Seat Arona up 38 to #54.

Previous month: Sweden March 2018: Volvo XC40 misses out on Top 10 for 5 sales

One year ago: Sweden April 2017: Volvo XC60 snaps top spot in market down 9%

Full April 2018 Top 45 All-brands and Top 265 All-models below.