Spain May 2019: Peugeot, Citroen and Toyota stay afloat in 8th market decline in past 9 months

Peugeot 3008 sales are up 27.2% in May in Spain.

After getting their head above water in April at +5.9%, new car sales in Spain are back under in May at -4.6% to 129.777, lodging an 8th year-on-year decline in the past 9 months yet this is still the 2nd largest volume for the month in the past 12 years. Year-to-date the market is now down -2.3% to 581.003, here too the 2nd highest in the past 12 years. Very healthy company sales (+8%) at 37.873 and 29.2% share vs. 25.8% a year ago, enable the market to limit its fall just as rental sales (-10.2%) plunge to 34.475 and 26.6% vs. 28.2% and private sales (-8.2%) skid down to 57.429 and 44.3% vs. 46%. The situation is similar YTD with company sales (+7.3%) pulling up to 178.719 and 30.8% share vs. 28% over the same period in 2018, rental sales (-2.2%) matching the market at 143.949 and 24.8% share but private sales (-8.1%) freefalling to 258.335 and 44.5% share vs. 47.3% in 2018.

Seat (+0.8%) posts a second consecutive win in the brands charts thanks to a shy uptick leading to a 8.9% share while YTD leader Peugeot (+12.1%) continues to gallop ahead. Mercedes (+24.5%), Citroen (+16.4%) and Toyota (+14.7%) also manage very strong results in the remainder of the Top 10 but all other brands endure double-digit drops: Renault (-19.2%), Fiat (-17.9%), Opel (-15.5%), Hyundai (-15.2%) and Volkswagen (-14.6%) all suffer mightily. Further down, Tesla (+590.9%), Lexus (+21.2%), Mitsubishi (+20%), BMW (+15.9%), Jeep (+11.2%) and Dacia (+7.1%) stay afloat but Jaguar (-37.9%), Suzuki (-32.6%), Smart (-31.2%), Kia (-27.9%), DS (-21.6%) and Ford (-19%) are hit hard. New brand Cupra remains at #37 with well under 100 sales.

Over in the models ranking, the Seat Leon (-20.2%) repeats at #1 despite a painful year-on-year fall, distancing the Dacia Sandero (+7.1%), Renault Clio (-5.1%) and Fiat 500 (-9.8%) up 24 spots on April. Below, the Peugeot 3008 (+27.2%), Nissan Qashqai (+15.7%) and Seat Ibiza (+15%) post the only double-digit gains in the Top 15. The new Toyota Corolla (the replacement for the Auris) leaps up 18 spots to #12, becoming the most successful recent launch (<12 months) ahead of the Citroen Berlingo at #30 (-13), Citroen C5 Aircross at #45 (+16) and VW T-Cross at #56 (+10). Local newcomer the Seat Tarraco hits its highest ranking (#64) and volume (766) since launching last October.

Previous month: Spain April 2019: Seat and Leon back on top in first market uptick in 8 months

One year ago: Spain May 2018: Fiat 500, Opel Mokka, Seat Arona hit records, biggest market in 11 years

Full May 2019 Top 55 All-brands and Top 300 All-models below.