Switzerland January 2019: VW (+13.1%), Skoda (+13.3%), Audi (+16.2%) defy market down 3.4%

The Skoda Octavia (+29.1%) holds 4.3% of the Swiss market in January.

New car sales in Switzerland creep down 3.4% year-on-year in January to 20.931 units, however alternative fuelled vehicles soar 35.6% to 1.724 and 8.2% share vs. 5.9% a year ago, pushed by EVs up 77.1% to 434 and 2.1% vs. 1.1% just as diesel sales dive 10.1% to 6.705 and 32% vs. 34.4% and 4×4 deliveries resist at -1.6% to 10.677 and 51% share vs. 50.1% in January 2018.

Brand leader Volkswagen (+13.1%) goes against the grain with a splendid 13.1% uptick to 12.8% share vs. 11.4% last month, with Mercedes (-2.6%) holding onto the 2nd spot at 8.5% just above Skoda (+13.3%) also very dynamic in third place. Volvo (+23.9%), Dacia (+18.7%), Audi (+16.2%) and Peugeot (+14.9%) also post excellent scores in the remainder of the Top 10, while further down Lamborghini (+183.3%) lifted up by the Urus, Tesla (+153.3%), Rolls Royce (+75%) thanks to the Cullinan, Jaguar (+67.2%), Ferrari (+57.1%), Mitsubishi (+35.9%), Bentley (+13.3%) and Lexus (+12.5%) are among the best performers.

Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (+29.1%) reclaims the top spot with an outstanding 4.3% share vs. 2.8% over the Full Year 2018, distancing the VW Golf (-10.8%), T6 (+796.4%) making up for a stop sale at the start of last year, and the VW Tiguan (-5.4%). The Mercedes A-Class (+68.2%) is pushed up to #5 by the new generation just ahead of the C-Class (+17.4%), with the BMW X3 (+95.2%) also shining in the Top 10. The Citroen C5 Aircross tops all recent launches at #56.

Previous post: Switzerland Full Year 2018: Skoda Octavia repeats at #1, Mercedes posts historic wins in lowest market since 2010

One year ago: Switzerland January 2019: VW Golf surges 92% to #1, Volvo XC60 #4

Full January 2019 Top 50 All-brands and Top 325 All-models below.