Portugal Full Year 2018: Renault Clio tightens grip in market at highest in 15 years

The Renault Clio has now topped the Portuguese sales charts 10 times since 1999.

Consult 30 years of Portugal Historical Data here.

New car sales in Portugal advance for the 6th consecutive year in 2018 at +2.8% to 228.327 registrations, posting the highest annual volume in at least 15 years. Renault (+3.7%) once again outpaces the market to hold a 13.7% share, distancing Peugeot (+8.9%) and Mercedes (+1.2%). Nissan (+16.2%) and Fiat (+15.6%) both gain 3 spots to #4 and #5 respectively, Citroen (+18%) and Toyota (+17.7%) are both up two to #7 and #10 whereas Volkswagen (-24.7%) struggles sightly and drops from #3 in 2017 to #9 this year. Further down, Jeep (+401.4%), Lamborghini (+75%), Bentley (+40%), Hyundai (+32.3%), Porsche (+25.6%), DS (+25.2%), Alfa Romeo (+24.1%), Lexus (+23.6%), Jaguar (+22.1%), Mitsubishi (+21.2%), Honda (+20.8%), Seat (+16.7%) and Ferrari (+15%) stand out.

The Renault Clio (+6.7%) celebrates 6 consecutive years as Portugal’s best-seller (no interruption since 2013) and 10th annual win in total (a series started in 1999), even tightening its stranglehold on the market as it sells just under twice the amount of the next best-seller, the Nissan Qashqai (+11.4%). It’s also the 12th consecutive year a Renault tops the Portuguese annual charts as the Clio also ranked #1 in 2008 and the Megane won in 2007 and from 2009 to 2012. The Peugeot 208 (-7.7%) is knocked down to #3 while the Renault Captur (+3.1%) overeats the Megane (-14.8%) to rank 4th overall. The Mercedes A-Class (+22.8%) is the best performer in the Top 10, peaking at a fantastic 2nd place outright in both October and November. The Peugeot 2008 (+6.5%) also shines in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas the VW Polo (-14%) and Citroen C3 (-2.8%) lose ground. Further down, the Toyota C-HR (+112.2%), Opel Crossland X (+106.1%), Peugeot 3008 (+76.3%), Nissan Micra (+30.5%), Fiat 500 (+24.2%) and Tipo (+23.9%) also deliver sizeable gains while the Seat Arona (+1002.8%) and Citroen C3 Aircross (+613%) both end their first full year of sales well inside the Top 35. The Volvo XC40 (#75) is the best-selling 2018 launch.

Previous month: Portugal November 2018: Mercedes A-Class up 74% at #2 in market down 12.1%

Previous year: Portugal 2017: Renault Clio leads for 5th consecutive year

Two years ago: Portugal 2016: Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 top market up 16%

Full Year 2018 Top 38 All-brands and Top 320 All-models vs. Full Year 2017 figures below.

Full December 2018 Top 35 All-brands and Top 245 All-models below.