Germany October 2019: Ford Kuga breaks into Top 5, VW T-Cross #2 with private buyers, market up 12.6%

The VW T-Cross scores a stunning 2nd place with Private buyers in October.

19/09 update: Now with Top 50 private sales models.

As a large swath of the German market including the VW Group overused stock clearances prior to WLTP implementation in September 2018, sales were totally depleted a year ago, and in consequence post spectacular gains in September this year (+22.2%) and again in October at +12.6% to 284.593 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 3.4% to 3.024.751, the largest 10-month volume in Germany since 2009. Fleet sales surge 16% year-on-year to 186.693 units and 65.6% share vs. 63.7% in October 2018 and up 5.7% YTD to 1.953.989 and 64.6% share vs. 63.2% over the same period a year ago. In contrast, private sales lose share both this month at +6.8% to 97.900 and 34.4% of the market vs. 36.3% a year ago, and YTD at -0.6% to 1.070.762 and 35.4% vs. 36.8% over 10 months 2018. Sales of diesel cars are up 9.6% to 88.042 and 30.9% share, its lowest for October since 2000 compared to 31.8% in October 2018, and are now up 4.1% 973.898 YTD and 32.2%. For once petrol sales lose market share this month with a +4.6% gain to 165.190 units and 58% of the German market vs. 62.5% in October 2018. Hybrid sales jump 138.6% to 26.382 and 9.3% share vs. 4.4% a year ago, including a 2.4% rise of PHEV to 6.947 units. Year-to-date hybrids are up 75.1% to 189.734. Finally EVs soar 46.9% to 4.979 and 1.7% share vs. 1.3% a year ago, up 89.1% YTD to 52.882.

Illustrating our aforementioned statement, under a spectacular year-on-year gain, the VW Group (+43.6%) actually just returns to its long term share at 36.2% in October vs. 36.7% YTD. Volkswagen (+39.4%) on the other hand is punching above its weight with a round 20% share vs. 18.4% so far in 2019. Top 4 brands are unchanged on September with Mercedes (+5.9%) hitting its highest market share in a year at 11.8%, followed by BMW (+3.4%) and Ford (+0.1%). Audi (+118.2%) lurches up but remains well below its YTD level at 6% vs. 7.6% while Skoda (+10.4%) outsells Opel (-29.6%) for only the third time in history after July 2018 and August 2019. Renault (+56.6%) and Seat (+21%) also readjust to their standard share in the remainder of the Top 10. Strikingly, there are no additional double-digit gainers until #21 Porsche (+497.5%), with Bentley (+410%), Tesla (+372.6%), Alpine (+150%), Alfa Romeo (+71.4%), Ssangyong (+34.3%), Lexus (+27.3%), and Land Rover (+21.3%) among the best performers among smaller brands.

Swan song and a very successful runout mode for the Ford Kuga II.

The VW Golf (+12.4%) and Tiguan (+40.8%) hold onto their grip over the German models ranking as per YTD and over the Full Year 2018, just as Mercedes slides the E-Class (+36.3%) and C-Class (+8.7%) inside the Top 4. The hero of the month is the Ford Kuga (+49.5%) in complete runout mode before the arrival of the new generation in December and breaking all the nameplate’s records: ranking at #5 vs. #14 in March 2017, volume at 5.035 vs. 4.625 in March 2017 and share at 1.8% vs. 1.5% in September 2016. The Mercedes GLC (+28.9%) is up 6 spots on September to #6, the Ford Focus (+24%) is down 5 to #8 but steps up to #4 year-to-date, knocking off the VW Polo (-3.3%), and the VW Passat is back up 8 ranks to #9 thanks to its facelift. Further down, the VW Caddy (+139.2%), T-Roc (+93.6%), Audi A6 (+54.4%) and BMW 3 Series (+47.9%) also shine. The VW T-Cross (#18) easily tops recent launches, well above the Skoda Scala (#58), Seat Tarraco (#96), Skoda Kamiq (#102), Mazda CX-30 (#115) and Citroen C5 Aircross (#119).

In the private sales ranking, below the VW Golf at 29.4% Private sales ratio (PS), the VW T-Cross lurches up 18 spots on September to a fantastic 2nd place overall thanks to an outstanding 76.5% PS, The Mercedes A-Class (55% PS) remains at a stunning 3rd place vs. #8 YTD, distancing the VW Polo (51.8%), Mini lineup (46.4%) and VW Tiguan (27.7%). The Ford Kuga is up to #7 (37.4%) but its record performance in the overall ranking is mostly due to business sales – possibly self-registrations – as its October PS is ten percentage points lower than its YTD level of 47.2%. The VW T-Roc is back up 16 spots to #9 which is however still well below the 3rd place it holds YTD. Notice also the Mitsubishi Space Star at #10.

Previous month: Germany September 2019: Hyundai breaks share record, Fiat 500 family up to #7 in market up 22.2%

One year ago: Germany October 2018: Mercedes at highest in 38 years, market down -7.4%

Full October 2019 Top 48 brands, Top 310 models and Top 50 private sales models below.