Netherlands May 2019: VW Polo overtakes Ford Focus for #1 YTD, market down -0.3%

The VW Polo is headed towards a second consecutive annual win in the Netherlands.

The Dutch new car market edges down -0.3% year-on-year in April to 36.830 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down a paltry -10.4% to 185.023. Brand leader Volkswagen (-7.3%) fares a lot worse than the market but holds onto the top spot at 11% share, whereas Opel (+8.5%) leaps up 5 spots on April to #2 with Peugeot (-13%) rounding up the podium. BMW (+36.3%) and Volvo (+22.6%) post the only double-digit gains in the Top 10 with Toyota (+8.6%) and Skoda (+2.7%) also in positive but Renault (-29.5%) sweating. Jeep (+52.1%), DS (+47.6%), Lexus (+39.5%), Seat (+33%), Audi (+24.3%), Hyundai (+17.6%), Citroen (+15.2%) and Mercedes (+11.8%) also shine further down whereas Tesla (+2.8%) seems to have already consumed all its Model 3 potential. Model-wise, the VW Polo (-18.6%) repeats at #1 and snaps the YTD lead off the Ford Focus (+136.4%) despite a steep drop. The Opel Karl (+29%) and Kia Niro (+89%) round up the podium, the Hyundai Kona (+255.9%) and BMW 3 Series (+118.5%) also impress near the top, the Tesla Model 3 is down 7 spots on April to #24 but still leads new launches ahead of the Toyota Corolla (#29), Citroen C5 Aircross (#53) and VW T-Cross (#55).

Previous month: Netherlands April 2019: VW Polo #1, Kia Niro scores first podium

One year ago: Netherlands May 2018: VW Polo repeats at #1 in market up 1.3%

Full May 2019 Top 40 All-brands and Top 275 All-models below.