Sweden August 2018: Podium 100% Volkswagen in market down 17.5%

The VW Golf celebrates a total of 10 months at #1 in Sweden across 8 years.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 240 All-models by clicking on the title *

Troubled by a new bonus-malus pricing put in place on July 1 that triggered an all-time record volume in June, the Swedish market is slowly returning to normal. After sinking 49.4% in July, sales are down a more reasonable but still very steep 17.5% in August to 24.670 units, with the year-to-date volume now up 5.9% to 262.717. Homegrown brand leader Volvo is traditionally “off” in Sweden in the midst of summer, and after an exception in 2017, it is against the case this year with Volkswagen (+33%) clear leader at 24.5% share vs. just 12.5% for Volvo (-38%). It is the 8th time in the past 9 years that Volvo ranks #2 at home in August. Seat (+48%) goes completely against the market and breaks into the Swedish Top 10 for the first time at #9. Only Audi (+5%) is also in positive in the Top 10, with BMW (-34%), Toyota (-26%) and Mercedes (-25%) hit the hardest. Further down, Porsche (+113%), Chevrolet (+42%), Jeep (+43%), Tesla (+41%), Jaguar (+38%), Dacia (+19%) and Lexus (+10%) also gain ground, defying the surrounding gloom.

The VW Tiguan is up 118% to #3 in August.

The podium reflects Volkswagen’s unusual domination:  the Golf (+13%), Passat (-4%) and Tiguan (+118%) monopolise the Top 3. This is the second time in Swedish history after August 2016 that the monthly podium is 100% VW and the 10th time the VW Golf is the best-seller in Sweden after August 2010, August 2014, August 2015, July 2016, August 2016, September 2016, October 2016, January 2017 and July 2018. One more VW-related stat: it is the 11th time this decade that there isn’t a Volvo at #1 in Sweden (add the VW Passat in August 2013), and potentially also the 11th time since 1960 when the VW Beetle was the best-seller here. The S/V60 (+32%) is the best-selling Volvo this month at #4, ahead of the YTD leader the Volvo S/V90 (-15%). Boosted by new advantageous pricing, the Kia Niro surges 175% year-on-year to drop just 3 spots on July to #6, with the Audi A4 (+104%), VW Polo (+88%) and Audi A6 (+61%) in great shape and the Volvo XC40 (#9) positing a second consecutive month in its home Top 10 while the VW T-Roc misses its first Top 10 ranking by just 30 sales at #11, up 13 ranks on last month.

Previous month: Sweden July 2018: VW leads, Kia teases Volvo in depleted market

One year ago: Sweden August 2017: Volvo leads, XC60 cements newfound leadership

Full August 2018 Top 40 All-brands and Top 240 All-models below.