Europe October 2019: VW Group (+31%), Renault (+15.2%) return to normal in market up 8.6%

Weak year-ago volumes, first new Captur demo sales help Renault up 15.2%.

3/12 update: Now with the Top 55 All-brands and Top 350 All-models.

29/11 update: Now with the Top 100 models.

28/11 update: Now with the Top 25 brands and models.

Figures shared by ACEA show European new car sales again benefiting from weak year-ago post-WLTP volumes, up a sturdy 8.6% year-on-year to 1.214.989 units. While last month’s volume remained way below 2017 levels, this month is up 1% on 2017 and constitutes the highest score for the month since 2009 (1.26m). The year-to-date tally is now down -0.7% to 13.330.918, the 2nd highest 10-months result since 2007 (13.62m) below last year (13.43m). According to JATO Dynamics, SUVs soar 22% year-on-year to 484.400 units, reaching a record 40% share. Electrified vehicles surge 41% to 115.700 with PHEVs up 79%, EVs up 32% and hybrids up 29%. Germany (+12.7%) is lifting the overall European result this month alongside France (+8.9%), with Spain (+7.6%) and Italy (+6.8%) also compensating for a paltry result in the UK (-6.7%). Romania (+57.3%), Ireland (+29.5%), Sweden (+28.4%), Latvia (+19.9%), Estonia (+19.3%), Finland (+18%), Slovakia (+15.9%) and Belgium (+15.7%) all vastly outpace the market whereas Iceland (-17.7%), Norway (-10.1%) and Cyprus (-3.8%) are the only nations in negative alongside the UK.

The VW Group recovers from poor post-WLTP sales a year ago.

In dire straits a year ago when it struggled to update its lineup to WLTP standards, the VW Group now surges 31.1% to go from 20.8% share in October 2018 to 25.1% this month, which is in fact just returning to its YTD level of 24.5%. Porsche (+343.6%) and Audi (+61.8%) show the most spectacular recovery. Fully WLTP-compliant early into 2018, the PSA Group didn’t suffer any post-WLTP hangover a year ago so has a higher comparison base, but is also really handicapped by Opel (-27.6%) and as a result shows a poor -4.9% year-on-year evolution in October. In contrast, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance (+8.3%), Hyundai-Kia (+7.4%) and Toyota Motor (+10.9%) all post “strong” results. The BMW Group (+2.9%) and FCA (+2.5%) are a lot more modest while both Daimler AG (-0.2%) and Ford Motor (-0.2%) edge down.

The DS 3 Crossback helps the brand up 66.5% in October.

Brand-wise and according to JATO Dynamics, Volkswagen (+29%) and Renault (+15.2%) post the largest gains in the Top 8 while Peugeot (+2.2%) climbs back up 5 spots on September to #2. Mercedes (+1.4%) is down one rank on last month to a still very strong 3rd place and climbs to #5 year-to-date, dislodging Opel (-27.6%). BMW (+5.3%) remains at #6, Toyota (+11.1%) distances Skoda (+7.7%) which overtakes Audi (+61.8%) in the YTD order to #8. Citroen (+11.6%) cracks the European Top 10 for the first time since last February. Below, Porsche (+343.6%), Tesla (+174.8%), DS (+88%), Seat (+25.2%), Mazda (+20.4%), Kia (+12.9%), Dacia (+12.4%), Hyundai (+12.3%) shine whereas Jaguar (-22.1%), Smart (-18%), Suzuki (-16.9%), Honda (-12.9%) and Mitsubishi (-12.5%) struggle.

The new CX-30 is a success in Europe, lifting Mazda up 20.4% in Europe.

The VW Golf (+6.2%) easily tops the models ranking with a 14.000-unit advantage over the VW Tiguan (+30.9%) just as the Renault Clio (-18.2%) rounds up the podium despite a deep dive. The VW Polo (-8.4%) is back up 17 spots on September to #4 but still showcases a worrying slump similar to that of the Ford Fiesta (-9.1%), both nameplates potentially being too greedy in their current generation’s price hike. Below, the Toyota Yaris (-3.5%) hit its highest European ranking since last January at #6, the Renault Captur (+43.2%) is helped up demo sales of the new generation to #7, the Peugeot 208 (-1.2%) is starting to reverse the trend thanks to the new model, up 8 ranks on September to #8 and the Citroen C3 (+3.7%) edges up to #9. The VW T-Roc (+40.8%) is up 17 spots to #12, the Dacia Duster (+41.1%) up 7 to #15, the Toyota Corolla (+1580.2%) up two to #17, and the Ford Kuga (+27.4%) up 5 to #20. Among recent launches, the VW T-Cross is up 9 ranks to #22, the Citroen C5 Aircross is up 17 to break into the Top 50 for the first time at #45 and the Skoda Scala is up 29 to a record #72.

Previous month: Europe September 2019: VW, Renault, Tesla lift market up 14.4% on 2018 but still down -12.3% on 2017

One year ago: Europe October 2018: Post-WLTP hangover softens (-7.4%), VW Group still struggling (-21.6%) 

Full October 2019 Top 10 groups, Top 55 brands and Top 350 All-models below.