Switzerland May 2020: Mercedes snaps brands lead in market down -50.5%

Mercedes GLE sales are up 188.6% in a market down -50.5%.

The Swiss new car market goes from -67.2% in April to -50.5% year-on-year in May at 13.890 units, pulling the year-to-date tally down -38.8% to 78.724. 4×4 sales follow the market at -50.7% to 6.840 and 49.2% share vs. 49.4% a year ago in May 2020 but outpace it year-to-date at -36.9% to 41.193 and 52.3% share vs 50.7% over the same period in 2019. Diesel volumes dive -63% to 2.772 for the month and -46.9% to 18.725 YTD. The only bright light is electrified vehicle sales actually up 21.4% year-on-year to 3.090 to surge from 10.6% to 22.2% share, including 1.751 HEV (-6.2%), 688 EV (+1.6%) and 629 PHEV (+149.6%). Year-to-date, electrified sales are up 25.7% to 16.840 and 21.4% share vs. 10.4% a year ago, including 8.841 HEV (+28.5%), 4.341 EV (-10%) and 3.336 PHEV (+152.4%).

Mercedes (-33.7%) takes the relay of BMW (-47.6%) atop the Swiss brands ranking at a very strong 10.6% share, keeping YTD leader Volkswagen (-59.7%) away from the pole position for the second month running. It is the 5th recorded Swiss pole position for Mercedes after February 2018, September 2018, August 2019 and September 2019 and the brand’s highest share since the 10.7% it hit in December 2018. Volvo (-26.1%) sports the best hold in the Top 10, almost half the market decline, with Renault (-32.8%), Toyota (-37.8%) and Skoda (-46.9%) also containing their losses whereas Ford (-59%), Audi (-57%) and Seat (-53.1%) struggle. Below, Rolls Royce (+100%), Lamborghini (+11.8%), Subaru (+6%) and Mini (+5.8%) post the only gains in market while Ferrari (stable), Porsche (-5.6%) and Tesla (-9.7%) resist.

Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (-48.6%) scores a 9th win in the past 12 months, distancing the VW Tiguan (-62.7%) and BMW X3 (-14.4%). The Volvo XC40 (-2.6%) keeps its year-on-year drop to a minimum and leaps 18 spots on April to #4, a new Swiss ranking record for the nameplate eclipsing the #5 it hit last January. The Mini Hatch (+26%) is down one spot on last month but surges year-on-year at #5 while the Mercedes GLE (+188.6%) improves almost 3-fold on May 2019 and also breaks its ranking record at #6, smashing its previous best of #14 hit just last month. The Opel Corsa (-16%) also shines in the remainder of the Top 10, as do the Mercedes CLA (+86%), VW T-Cross (+60.2%), Tesla Model 3 (+16.8%), Toyota Corolla (-2.3%), Renault Zoe (-3.4%), Ford Kuga (-3.6%), Renault Captur (-6.7%) and Hyundai Kona (-8.4%) in the Top 50. The Skoda Kamiq (#44), Mazda CX-30 (#49), Ford Puma (#61) and Mercedes GLB (#72) top recent launches.

Previous month: Switzerland April 2020: BMW scores first win and record share in market down -67.2%

One year ago: Switzerland May 2019: Seat (+27.5%), Audi (+13.3%), Skoda (+11.8%) pull market up 0.8%

Full May 2020 Top 50 All-brands and Top 300 All-models below.