Sweden October 2018: Bonus/malus and post-WLTP hit sales: -28.1%

The Volvo XC40 is back up to a best-ever 6th place at home.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 225 All-models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Sweden continue to suffer from the aftermath of two major pull-forward events that occurred earlier this year: a new bonus-malus pricing system that advantages green cars and the pre-WLTP registrations rush felt throughout the European Union. As a result, October sales plunge 28.1% year-on-year to 23.088 and send year-to-date volume into negative territory at -2.3% to 304.916 units. Brand leaders Volvo (-41%) and Volkswagen (-43%) implode to much lower shares vs YTD but still top the ranking this month. Kia (-1%) is back down to #3 but manages the 2nd-best hold in the Top 10 below Ford (+8%), the only carmaker in positive in the Top 14. BMW (-3%) and Mercedes (-10%) also resist well but Audi (-51%) and Nissan (-42%) implode. Further down, Jaguar (+209%), Jeep (+79%), Mini (+41%), Land Rover (+18%), Mitsubishi (+14%) and Tesla (+2%) are the only brand lodging a gain in Sweden.

The new generation lifts VW Polo sales up 6-fold in September.

The Volvo S/V90 (-23%) is back to the lead of the Swedish models ranking, a ranking it holds year-to-date, but its October share (5.5%) remains below YTD (7%). The rest of the Top 5 is shockingly all crumbling apart and losing more ground than an already freefalling market, with the Volvo XC60 (-73%) and VW Passat (-59%) hit the hardest and the VW Golf (-45%) and Volvo S/V60 (-33%) also struggling. The Volvo XC40 is up one spot on September to a record-equalling #6, also hit last July. The VW Polo surges 507%, alongside the Kia Niro (+17%) and Kia Cee’d (+3%) the only nameplates in positive in the Top 15. The Nissan Leaf (+353%), Renault Zoe (+151%), Ford Focus (+87%), Toyota C-HR (+66%), Mitsubishi Outlander (+40%) and Renault Clio (+27%) also stand out in the remainder of the Top 30.

Previous month: Sweden September 2018: Kia scores first #2 ranking, Volvo S/V60 #1

One year ago: Sweden October 2017: Volvo XC60 leads again, old gen outsells new

Full October 2018 Top 40 All-brands and Top 225 All-models below.