Switzerland February 2019: Skoda Karoq up to #4, Kodiaq #7, Tesla Model 3 #13

The Skoda Karoq is up to a record 4th place in Switzerland in February.

The Swiss new car market edges down -0.5% year-on-year in February to 22.176 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down 1.9% to 43.107. 4×4 sales defy the negative context with sales up 1.1% to 10.957 and 49.4% share vs. 48.6% a year ago, adding up to 21.634 (-0.2%) so far in 2019 or 50.2% share vs. 49.3% over the same period in 2018. Diesel sales drop 8.7% this month to 28.8% share vs. 31.4% while Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) soar 40.1% to 1.919 and 8.7% share vs. 6.1%, boosted by EVs (+83.1%).

Volkswagen (+25.6%) scores an outstanding year-on-year gain to cement its pole position at 11% share, distancing Mercedes (+4.4%) at 9.4% with Skoda (+19.5%) also in excellent shape at #3 with 8.9% of the market. The VW Group is on fire as Seat (+26.8%) is up 6 spots on January to #5. Toyota (+26.6%) also impresses in the remainder of the Top 10 but Audi (-42.1%), Opel (-30.1%) and Renault (-23.6%) are all in dire straits. Further down, outstanding performers include Tesla (+754.1%) thanks to the Model 3, Lamborghini (+200%) thanks to the Urus, Rolls Royce (+150%) thanks to the Cullinan, Aston Martin (+120%), Jeep (+64%), Jaguar (+56.4%), Smart (+53.3%) and Land Rover (+30%).

Over in the models ranking, the Skoda Octavia (-9.7%) remains by far the best-seller in Switzerland with 3% share, eclipsing the VW Tiguan (+59.1%) and Golf (-3.9%) while the Skoda Karoq (+111.5%) leaps up 9 spots on January to a new record 4th place – it holds the same ranking record at home in the Czech Republic – ahead of the Mercedes A-Class (+86.9%), Seat Ateca (+47.3%), Skoda Kodiaq (+114.8%) at #7 – also a new record – and Mercedes GLC (+22.5%). The VW T6 (+735%) compensates for a stop sale at the start of 2018, while the Tesla Model 3 lands directly at a very impressive 13th place, becoming the most popular recent launch (<12 months) way above the Seat Tarraco (#102).

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

One year ago: Switzerland February 2018: Mercedes topples Volkswagen to #1 brand

Full February 2019 Top 50 All-brands and Top 320 All-models below.