Portugal July 2019: Mercedes A-Class scores third pole position in past year in market down -7.8%

The Mercedes A-Class is the outright best-seller in Portugal for the third time in the past 11 months.

The Portuguese new car market drops a steep -7.8% year-on-year in July to 18.436 registrations, meaning the year-to-date volume is now down -4.9% to 147.031. Renault (-18.8%) takes a hit but stays at #1 with 11.4% share while Peugeot (+6.1%) reclaims the #2 spot it holds YTD and Mercedes (+12.4%) is up 2 ranks on June to #3. Fiat (-12.4%) freefalls to #4, Volkswagen (+20.9%) leaps up 5 spots to #5 but only Seat (+1.4%) manages an uptick in the remainder of the Top 10, with Nissan (-30.1%) and Toyota (-8.3%) struck hard, Citroen (-1.3%) and BMW (-3.3%) gaining share year-on-year.

We have a surprise atop the Portuguese models ranking this month: the Mercedes A-Class (+82.5%) brilliantly takes the lead for the third time in the past year after last September and January, its success owed to a combination of strong fleet sales and cut-throat leasing offers. The A-Class stands at #3 year-to-date below the Renault Clio (-42%) and Captur (+42.6%) which also complete the July podium. The Renault Megane (-15.6%) even makes it 3 Renaults in the Top 4 with the Fiat 500 (+20.6%) rounding up the Top 5. The Seat Arona (+47.6%), Dacia Sandero (+38.4%), Peugeot 308 (+26.2%), 2008 (+20.2%), VW Polo (+19.2%), Nissan Micra (+15.8%) and Citroen C3 (+12.5%) also shine in the Top 10.

Previous month: Portugal June 2019: Renault Captur breaks share record, threatens Clio for #1

One year ago: Portugal July 2018: Renault places Clio and Megane on top

Full July 2019 Top 40 All-brands and Top 260 All-models below.