Germany September 2020: First sales uptick of the year (+8.4%), Skoda in Top 5, Opel Corsa #2, Seat Leon #5

The Opel Corsa is up to #2 in Germany, only outsold by the VW Golf.

German new car sales brilliantly manage their first year-on-year gain of 2020 in September at +8.4% to 265.227 registrations, joining Italy (+9.8%) as the only two European markets in positive for the month just as France (-3%), the UK (-4.4%) and Spain (-13.5%) skid down. Germany’s sturdy uptick is enough to send the entire European market into positive in our live September update now including 20 markets (+0.4%). The German government has rolled out unprecedented stimulus measures to support the economy, including a temporary cut in sales tax that has encouraged purchases of big-ticket items like cars, as well as special subsidies targeted at environmentally friendly vehicles. Private sales soar 18% while fleet sales edge up 3.5%, PHEV registrations are up 464% to 20.127 and BEV sales are up 260% to 21.188 whereas petrol is down -18% and diesel off -6.4%. The year-to-date tally remains violently in negative at -25.5% to 2.041.831. As a result of this solid rebound, we have adjusted our 2020 Germany Forecast up from 2.82 million (-22%) to 2.91 million sales (-19%), which would remain the lowest annual German volume in 35 years: since 1985 (2.38m).

The Seat Leon ranks 5th overall and 2nd in its segment below the VW Golf.

Volkswagen (+1.6%), Mercedes (+1.9%) and BMW (+1.9%) keep control of the  brands ranking with minimal yet positive year-on-year evolutions, with Ford (-0.8%) just edging down to stay at #4, one spot above its YTD ranking. Skoda (+29.6%) breaks into the German Top 5 for only the 4th time in history after March 2009, August 2019 and July 2020, hitting its second highest share ever at 6.8%, also hit in September 2017 and below the 7% hit last July. Audi (+42.4%) scores the largest gain in the Top 7 but remains well below its YTD level at 6.1% share vs. 7.5% and drops one spot on last month to #6. Seat (+71.1%) and Renault (+58.4%) score the most spectacular upticks n the Top 10 whereas Opel (-27.6%) freefalls year-on-year but rallies back up 3 spots on August to #7 and 5% share vs. 4.7% YTD. Just outside the Top 10 we have a streak of very impressive gainers: Peugeot (+36.1%), Fiat (+26.7%), Kia (+24.3%) and Toyota (+13.7%), with Dacia (+36.5%), Citroen (+22.6%) and Nissan (+15%) also standing out in the remainder of the Top 20. Further down, Tesla (+82.7%), Subaru (+70.4%), Alfa Romeo (+59.5%), Ferrari (+36.5%), Bentley (+25%), Jeep (+11.1%) and Lamborghini (+8.9%) also have a smile on their grille.

Germany monthly sales 2018-2020 comparison. Source: KBA

Model-wise, after two months in positive the VW Golf (-24.5%) returns to hell and a 7th double-digit year-on-year fall for 2020 despite the novelty of an 8th generation. The Opel Corsa (+22.4%) on the other hand takes full advantage of the new model and gains 3 spots on August to reach a record 2nd place last held two years ago in WLTP-heavy September 2018. The VW Passat (+95.4%) drops to #3 ahead of the Skoda Octavia (+48%) up two to #4 and the Seat Leon (+213.6%) up 3-fold year-on-year to #5, its highest since August 2019 (#4). The Mini lineup (+4.7%) is up 4 ranks on last month to #6 the Fiat 500 family (+8.2%) rallies back up 31 spots to equal its German ranking record at #7, also hit a year ago in September 2019. Below underperforming VW Tiguan (-20.1%) and Ford Focus (-17.3%), the Mercedes GLC (+14.1%) rounds out the Top 10 in very solid fashion. Below, the Ford Kuga (+59.5%), Renault Zoe (+468.3%), VW T-Roc (+16.3%), Fiat Ducato (+195.1%), Hyundai Kona (+45.7%), Hyundai i20 (+94.1%) and BMW 1 Series (+117.6%) all score fantastic gains in the Top 20. Below the Ford Puma (#34) still best-selling recent launch, the VW ID.3 is gearing up 85 spots on August to #55 as is the Mazda MX-30 up 129 to #122.

Previous month: Germany August 2020: BMW (+15.2%) stands out, Mercedes GLC hits record #4, market halted -20%

One year ago: Germany September 2019: Hyundai breaks share record, Fiat 500 lineup up to #7 in market up 22.2%

Full September 2020 Top 50 All-brands and Top 310 All-models below.