Spain September 2018: Peugeot 3008 signs first major win in the world

The Peugeot 3008 is the best-selling vehicle in Spain in September.

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 285 All-models by clicking on the title *

After August registrations were sent flying by pre-WLTP manipulations, the first September results are coming in for the European Union and, as expected, it’s not looking good – very logically so. Spanish registrations are down 15.9% to 70.404 units, the weakest September score since 2015 (70.416) yet the year-to-date volume remains comfortably in positive at +11.8% to 1.048.657, the best result and first time above 1 million after 9 months since 2007 (1.216.129). Counter-intuitively, company sales – the channel that was boosted the most by pre-WLTP stock clearances – resist well in context this month at -10.5% to 26.989, improving their share to 38.3% vs. 36% a year ago, while private sales drop 16.8% to 40.865 and 58% share vs. 58.6% and rental sales implode 42.9% to 2.550 and 3.6% vs. 5.3%. Year-to-date, once again company sales fare the best at +20.6% to 322.106 and 30.7% share vs. 28.5% over the same period a year ago, with private sales edging up 8.3% to 510.759 and 48.7% share vs. 50.3% and rentals up 8.2% to 215.792 and 20.6% vs. 21.3% in 2017.

The Toyota C-HR smashes its Spanish ranking record from #20 last month to #6.

In the brands ranking, September is bound to feature all across Europe the “revenge of the healthy marques”: those that didn’t get as much of a boost in August simply because their lineup was already WLTP-compliant. Case in point: Peugeot (+11%) up 6 spots on last month to brilliantly snap the Spanish pole position in September just as PSA’s entire lineup has been WLTP-ready for months. Seat (+15%) is also strong as Spain was one of the rare markets where it didn’t need to boost sales in August, distancing Toyota (+6%) up 6 ranks to #3 and a surprise at #4: Kia (+8%) which shot up to #2 overall last month with the Carens as the outright best-seller but remains very strong at 6.2% share vs. 5.3% so far this year. Citroen (+6%) jumps 8 spots to complete a Top 5 entirely in positive. Volkswagen (-29%) struggles mightily at #8 vs. #2 YTD but the steepest declines are ruthlessly relegated outside the Top 10: Renault (-51%) dives from #1 to #11, Nissan (-51%) from #6 to #14 with Porsche (-77%), Ssangyong (-68%), Alfa Romeo (-67%), Fiat (-62%), Audi (-59%), Land Rover (-57%), Suzuki (-53%), Subaru (-43%) and Infiniti (-42%) paying the price of their August sales manipulations. Jaguar (+37%), Volvo (+30%) and Mini (+25%) shine.

First Top 10 at home for the Seat Arona, after knocking this milestone in Austria last July.

Illustrating Peugeot’s smooth domination of the charts this month we have a big surprise in pole position of the models ranking: the Peugeot 3008 (+60%) signs its very first win in a major market anywhere in the world – no less, contrasting with the #13 spot it holds YTD (vs. #24 in 2017). The Seat Ibiza (+4%) and Leon (-9%) give the podium an air of familiarity though, even if their order is reversed compared to YTD where the Leon is #1. The Dacia Sandero (-0.4%) is up one spot on August to return to the #4 ranking it holds YTD with the Peugeot 2008 (+22%) up 14 ranks to complete a decidedly Peugeot-accented Top 5. The second big surprise of the month is the Toyota C-HR surging 94% year-on-year to #6, 14 spots above last month which was its previous Spanish ranking record – this way breaking into the Top 10 for the first time in any major European market. The Seat Arona celebrates one year in market by breaking into its home Top 10 for the first time also at #8 (pb #12 last May) – a milestone it already knocked in Austria last July. The VW Polo (+60%) goes against the brand’s direction at #17 thanks to the new model, the Kia Stonic improves its ranking record to #27 and the BMW X2 (#42) and Volvo XC40 (#43) both break into the Spanish Top 50 for the first time.

Previous month: Spain August 2018: Pre-WLTP stock clearing triggers record volume, sends Kia Carens to pole position

One year ago: Spain September 2017: Qashqai and Megane lead, Seat Ateca up to #9

Full September 2018 Top 45 All-brands and Top 285 All-models below.