Germany January 2019: Audi (+3.7%) now recovered, Ford, Dacia, Hyundai strong in market down 1.3%

The BMW X7 has now landed in Germany.

Germany starts 2019 with a -1.3% drop in January to 265.702 registrations. Volkswagen (-6.5%) is up to 19.1% share, signing its best share and first single-digit drop since the WLTP implementation last September. Mercedes (-4.3%) steps back up to #2 with 9.5% of its home market while Audi (+3.7%) posts both its first year-on-year gain and first podium finish since WLTP hit. As a result the VW Group (-4%) posts its slimmest post-WLTP drop so far after -62% in September, -21% in October, -18% in November and -10% in December, and its largest share at 36.5% after falling to just 20.1% in September. Ford (+14.6%) is in excellent shape, snapping its first double-digit gain since last April and the biggest improvement in the Top 15. BMW (-7.4%) is down 3 spots on December to #5 with Opel (-6.6%) also underperforming while Skoda (-1.6%) roughly matches the market but Hyundai (+11.7%), Seat (+6.2%) and Renault (+2.3%) close out the Top 10 in splendid fashion. Further down, Lamborghini (+166.7%), Tesla (+117.5%), Rolls Royce (+100%), Cadillac (+82.5%), Subaru (+46.5%), Volvo (+39.7%), Suzuki (+18.5%), Dacia (+13.9%) and Citroen (+10%) post some of the largest gains in market.

The Audi A6 hits its highest ranking at home in 7 years.

Over in the models ranking, the VW Golf (-22.9%) doesn’t follow suit and remains in great difficulty, enduring a 5th consecutive double-digit decline and worsening its fate after falling “just” 15% in October and 17% in December. The VW Polo (+20.4%) on the other hand takes full advantage of the new generation and lodges a third #2 finish in a row. After tumbling down 33% in December, the VW Tiguan (-12.8%) rallies back up to #3 but can’t help a 5th straight double-digit drop. It’s a solid showing for the Mercedes C-Class (+5.3%) down one spot on last month to #4 while the Skoda Octavia (-6.7%) is up 6 to #5. The VW T-Roc (+243.2%) soars 33 ranks on December to hit a stunning 6th place, its first Top 10 finish in 5 months and 2nd best ranking below the #5 it reached last August. The Audi A6 (+29.7%) also excels at #7, the nameplate’s highest ranking in no less than 7 years: since January 2012 (#5). The Opel Astra (+5.9%) surprises with a 12 spot surge on last month to #8, as does the Audi A3 (+6.2%) up 12 to #11.

The Ecosport (+550.1%) helps Ford up 14.6% this month.

Other great performers in the Top 50 include the Ford Ecosport (+550.1%), BMW X3 (+362%) thanks to a new generation, the VW Transporter (+289.2%) compensating for a stop-sale at the start of 2018, Seat Arona (+159.5%), Skoda Karoq (+101.5%), Renault Twingo (+85.8%), Mercedes A-Class (+68.7%), Opel Adam (+61.6%), Audi Q5 (+44.2%), Toyota C-HR (+36.6%), Hyundai i30 (+32.5%), Seat Ateca (+32.1%), Audi Q2 (+27.4%), Hyundai i20 (+21.7%) and Dacia Duster (+18.9%). Reversely, the BMW 1 Series (-42.5%), VW Passat (-40%), BMW 5 Series (-34.1%), VW Up (-30.2%), Audi A4 (-29.1%), BMW 2 Series (-28.2%) and Seat Leon (-27.4%) all implode. The best-selling recent launch (<12 months) is the Peugeot Rifter (#132) just above the Audi Q8 (#134). This month we welcome the Audi E-Tron (#150), VW T-Cross (#245) and BMW X7 (#260) in the German charts.

Previous post: Germany Full Year 2018: Volkswagen monopolises Top 4 for the first time despite WLTP bruises

One year ago: Germany January 2018: VW above 20% share, T-Roc weak, market up 11.6%

Full January 2019 Top 48 brands and Top 310 models below.