Portugal May 2020: Mercedes #1, soars to record 13.2% share, Citroen C-Elysee in Top 10, market in hell (-74.7%)

The A-Class is #1 in Portugal in May, helping Mercedes to a record share.

New daily coronavirus cases have remained below 400 since May 8 in Portugal but the pandemic hasn’t been completely wrestled to the ground just yet, adding up to 33.592 cases and 1.455 deaths at the time of writing. After stalling -87% in April, Portuguese new car sales do only just better in May at -74.7% year-on-year to 5.741, sending the year-to-date tally down -47.9% to 53.772.

The Citroen C-Elysee breaks into the Portuguese Top 10.

Mercedes (-46.5%) resist a lot better than the market and claims its third ever monthly win in Portugal after August 2015 and September 2015. Even more impressive is its market share shooting to a mammoth 13.2%, smashing its previous record of 11.3% hit just last month and marking only the 4th time the German carmaker holds more than 10% of the Portuguese market after August 2015 (10.3%) and January 2020 (10.1%). Renault (-81.1%) climbs back up to #2 and holds onto the YTD top spot, distancing Peugeot (-76.5%), BMW (-58.3%) and Citroen (-78.5%). Porsche (-23%), Hyundai (-48.4%), Land Rover (-53.5%) and Dacia (-55.8%) resist best further down.

The Mercedes A-Class (-57.1%) secures a 7th Portuguese win in the past 11 months, edging past the Renault Clio (-80.7%) while the BMW 1 Series (-48.6%) roars up 7 spots on April to land on the third step of the podium. The Hyundai Kauai (-24.1%) is up 4 to #8 and signs the best hold in the Top 8. Renault places the Captur (-74.7%) at #5 and Peugeot the 2008 (-65.5%) at #6 and the 208 (-80.1%) at #7. The Citroen C-Elysee (+62.7%) swims completely upstream and gains 122 spots (!) on April to break into the Top 10 for what we believe is the very first time in Portugal, potentially due to some irresistible discounts.

Previous month: Portugal April 2020: Peugeot 208 leads, Dacia, Nissan Leaf solid in market down -87%

One year ago: Portugal May 2019: Seat (+28.5%), Citroen (+15.2%) shine in market down -3.8%

Full May 2020 Top 35 All-brands and Top 230 All-models below.