Germany February 2019: VW Group (+3.3%) leads market to first year-on-year gain in 6 months (+2.7%)

The VW T-Roc now ranks 5th year-to-date in Germany.

The German new car market edges back into positive territory for the first time since pre-WLTP-boosted August with February up 2.7% to 268.867 registrations, enough to also tilt the YTD tally into positive at +0.6% 534.569. Instrumental to this return to growth is the stabilisation of VW Group sales, also back in positive for the first time in 6 months at +3.3% to 37.7% share, its highest since the 40.1% of last August and similar to its level of a year ago in February 2018. Volkswagen (+4.5%), Audi (+2.3%), Skoda (+1.2%), Seat (+18.7%) and Lamborghini (+91.7%) all return positive scorecards but Porsche (-41.9%) and Bentley (-32.8%) are still in a deep rut.

Apart from Seat which posts the largest gain in the Top 18, there are quite a few impressive progressions near the top of the brands ranking: Hyundai (+17.1%), Mercedes (+11.3%) and Ford (+10.4%) in the Top 10, and Volvo (+27.7%), Smart (+25%), Mitsubishi (+17.9%) and Dacia (+17%) among the following 10. Further down, notice Tesla (+524%) boosted by the arrival of the Model 3 like in most other European markets, Aston Martin (+123.1%), Rolls-Royce (+72.7%), Cadillac (+52%), Jaguar (+39.6%), Subaru (+15.4%) and Jeep (+15.2%), Mini (+11.9%) all growing fast.

The Tesla Model 3 posts an impressive landing in Germany, directly inside the February Top 100.

In accordance with its return into shape, Volkswagen monopolises the February podium with the Golf (-11.6%) enduring a 6th consecutive double-digit decline but the Tiguan (+12.1%) and Polo (+34.6%) both posting fantastic scores. The Ford Focus (+8.4%) advances to 4th place, its highest German ranking since last April while the Audi A3 (+30.6%) is up 6 spots on January to round up the Top 5. The VW T-Roc (+247.9%) has now firmly made its mark on its home market after a timid start a year ago, ranking #6 for the 2nd straight month and #5 YTD. Below, both the Mercedes C-Class (+8.9%) and Opel Corsa (+8.6%) post strong scores but the Audi A4 (-20.7%) and Skoda Octavia (-11.2%) skid down. The VW Transporter (+449.7%), compensating for a stop-sale at the start of 2018, BMW X3 (+305.6%), Ford Ecosport (+110.2%), Hyundai Kona (+108%), Opel Grandland X (+79.4%), Skoda Karoq (+75.4%), Mercedes B-Class (+49.3%), Dacia Duster (+49.1%), Seat Ateca (+35.4%) and Mercedes GLC (+24.7%) post some of the largest gains in the Top 50 – almost all are SUVs.

The Tesla Model 3 spectacularly lands directly atop recent launches (<12 months) at #89 with just under 1.000 deliveries for its first month on the German market. This represents 88% of Tesla sales this month and way more than the next best-selling EVs such as the Renault Zoe (#102), Nissan Leaf (#162) or Jaguar i-Pace (#224). Among other recent launches the Seat Tarraco (#126), Peugeot Rifter (#129), Audi Q8 (#132) and Citroen C5 Aircross (#150) manage a Top 150 finish while the VW T-Cross is up 17 spots on last month to #228 and the BMW X7 up 20 to #240.

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

One year ago: Germany February 2018: Ford Focus at highest in over 7 years, market up 7.4%

Full February 2019 Top 50 brands and Top 315 All-models below.