Netherlands September 2020: VW ID.3 #11, Polestar 2 #16 in reeling market (-21.9%)

The VW ID.3 already knocks on the Dutch Top 10’s door in September.

The July uptick (+4%) was short-lived: after August (-21.5%), new car sales in the Netherlands endure another -21.9% freefall in September to 29.434 units, the worst performance of all European markets we have covered so far. This leads to a year-to-date tally down -24.9% to 248.362. Volkswagen (+8.4%) bucks the negative trend and reclaims the brands top spot with 8.4% share, toppling last month’s leader Kia (+28.3%) by just 21 sales. The Korean manufacturer remains however the best performer in the Top 13. In fact, Volvo (+4.4%) is the only additional Top 10 carmaker managing a year-on-year gain at #10, with BMW (-7.3%), Toyota (-11.8%) and Ford (-15.5%) holding well but Opel (-48.7%), Peugeot (-29.8%), Renault (-26.2%) and Mercedes (-24.5%) hit hard. Fiat (+89.9%), Audi (+39.8%) and Suzuki (+17.3%) shine below while newcomer Polestar leaps 14 spots on August to #21 with 1.6% share just as MG sinks 5 ranks to #25.

The Polestar 2 breaks into the Dutch Top 20 in September.

Over in the models ranking, the Kia Niro (+53%) easily cements its market domination, the only nameplate selling over 1.000 units this month at 4.3% share. The Tesla Model 3 (-83.1%) completely implodes vs. a record year-ago volume but is up 4 spots on August to #2 and 3.3% share vs. #14 and 1.7% so far in 2020. The Volvo XC40 (+101.8%) more than doubles its sales year-on-year and climbs 5 ranks on last month to land on the third step of the podium. The Ford Fiesta (-17.9%) and Toyota Aygo (-3%) are both down but less than the market, rounding out the Top 5. The Opel Corsa (+322.7%), Peugeot 208 (+79.9%), Toyota Yaris (+22.3%) and Hyundai Kona (+14.3%) also impress in the remainder of the Top 10, but the big news are just below. The VW ID.3 lands directly just outside the Top 10 at #11 with 609 sales and 2.1% share (the VW Golf meanwhile is down -23.8% to #17) while the Polestar 2 shoots up 141 spots on August to break into the Dutch Top 20 at #16 with 478 sales and 1.6% share.

Previous month: Netherlands August 2020: Kia, Peugeot, Renault, Volvo deft market down -21.5%

One year ago: Netherlands September 2019: Tesla Model 3 hits 15.1% share, largest monthly volume outside US (5.768)

Full September 2020 Top 45 All-brands and Top 255 All-models below.