Europe December 2018: Mercedes A-Class up 47.8% to #8

The Mercedes A-Class lodges a third European Top 10 finish in 4 months, helping Mercedes become the only gainer in the Top 12 brands.

The Europe Full Year 2018 post has now been updated with the Top 60 brands and Top 415 models.

The Europe November 2018 post has now been updated with the Top 55 brands and Top 50 models.

This is a quick catchup update to isolate December data for Europe 27 markets as it has been overshadowed by the Full Year 2018 reports. New car sales in Europe 27 markets are down 8.4% year-on-year in December to 1.029.901. Volkswagen (-6.3%) manages to lose less ground than the market in pole position, maintaining a 40.000-unit advantage over #2 Renault (-21.2%) up 3 spots on November but still in post-WLTP dire straits. Mercedes (+4.5%) brilliantly posts the only year-on-year gain in the Top 12 and edges up one spot on last month to land on the third step of the podium. Skoda (-5%), Opel (-5.8%) and Ford (-6.6%) resist the best in the Top 10 but Audi (-21.5%), Toyota (-11.4%), BMW (-10.6%) and Peugeot (-9.3%) struggle. Further down, let’s single out Jaguar (+83.5%), MG (+43.2%), Lancia (+38.8%), Jeep (+35.6%), Mitsubishi (+23.8%), Tesla (+7.9%) and Citroen (+3.3%) all signing rare improvements. Alpine (+3783.3%) celebrates one year since its return in market with a Top 40 finish.

Model-wise, below the VW Golf (-21.5%), Renault Clio (-8.7%), VW Polo (+43.7%) and Ford Fiesta (-3.6%) reproducing the 2018 Top 4, the two main events in the Top 10 are the 5th place of the Dacia Sandero (+5.9%), its second consecutive month indie the European Top 5 after a record-breaking #4 in November, and the 8th position of the Mercedes A-Class (+47.8%), confirming the 6th spot it held back in September and the #10 from last month weren’t freak events – note it ranks #23 over the Full Year 2018. The Ford Focus at #6 vs. #15 in FY2018, Renault Captur at #7 vs. #12 and Mercedes C-Class at #19 vs. #26 also post splendid performances. Significant gainers in the remainder of the Top 70 include the VW T-Roc (+248.1%), Skoda Karoq (+187.2%), Ford Ecosport (+158.1%), Seat Arona (+119.3%), BMW X3 (+108%), Citroen C3 Aircross (+82.4%) and Renault Zoe (+66.7%). The most popular 2018 launch is now the Jaguar i-Pace at #112 above the Peugeot Rifter at #138 and the Audi Q8 at #166.

Previous post: Europe Full Year 2018: WLTP transition freezes sales, VW, Peugeot, Dacia and Jeep shine, VW Golf #1 and Tiguan #5

Previous month: Europe November 2018: Mercedes (+4.5%) shines, Renault (-28%), Nissan (-28%), Audi (-41%) pull market down 8.1%, Sandero at record #4

One year ago: Europe December 2017: Renault Captur on podium, Dacia Duster in Top 10

Full December 2018 Top 55 brands and Top 375 All-models ranking below.