Netherlands January 2019: Ford Focus on podium in freefalling market (-19.6%)

The Ford Focus soars 49.2% year-on-year to land at #3 in the Netherlands.

The Dutch new car market tumbles down 19.6% year-on-year in January to just 47.701 units, paying the price for last minute rushed sales in December before a January 1 change in taxation that is less advantageous for luxury EVs that lifted Jaguar to #1 brand with 13.2% share and Tesla to #2 with 11.1%. The brand order returns to somewhat of a more normal structure this month with Volkswagen (-30.2%) leading the pack ahead of Opel (-24.2%), Peugeot (-10.4%), Ford (-13.6%) and BMW (+15.4%), the only Top 15 carmaker in positive alongside Seat (+6.3%) and Volvo (+1.2%). Renault (-48.7%), Hyundai (-36.2%), Audi (-33.2%) and Kia (-29.7%) are hit particularly hard this month.

The VW Golf (+0.9%) snaps the lead of the models ranking this month, distancing the VW Polo (-21%) and Ford Focus surging up 49.2% year-on-year and 29 spots on December. In the remainder of the Top 10, the VW T-Roc (+31.9%), Peugeot 108 (+15.5%), Opel Astra (+12.5%) and Skoda Octavia (+11.8%) all impress with double-digit gains but the VW Up (-41.8%) and Ford Fiesta (-37.9%) struggle. Below, notice outstanding performances by the Nissan Leaf (+1550%), Skoda Karoq (+893.8%), Mitsubishi Outlander (+197.4%), Hyundai Kona (+159.8%), Mercedes A-Class (+147.7%) and Volvo V60 (+124.1%) just as the Volvo XC40 (#22) comfortably tops all recent launches, way above the BMW X2 (#101). Finally, the Tesla Model 3 lands at #144, delivering its first significant volume across all of Europe.

Previous post: Netherlands Full Year 2018: New gen lifts VW Polo to #1, Jaguar i-Pace holds 13.1% share in December

One year ago: Netherlands January 2018: VW places Polo, Golf, Up and Tiguan in Top 4

Full January 2019 Top 43 brands and Top 275 models below.