Sweden September 2020: First market uptick of the year (+7.3%), RAV4 up to #2, Polestar 2 #12, VW ID.3 #15

The Toyota RAV4 is up to a record 2nd place in Sweden in September.

The Swedish new car market lodges its first year-on-year gain of 2020 in September at +7.3% to 28.719 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -18.2% to 202.644. According to local automaker association BIL Sweden, the country’s economy has recovered somewhat faster than predicted, and they are accordingly adjusting up their 2020 forecast from 270.000 to 280.000 units. Still according to BIL Sweden, the recovery that we are now seeing is largely explained by resumption of car production and cars being delivered again on previous orders. Rechargeable cars hit another all-time record share in September at 34.4% vs. 13.5% a year ago thanks to sales soaring 170.8% year-on-year. Year-to-date, rechargeable car sales are up 101.5% to 56.554 units and 27.9% share vs. 11.2%. BIL Sweden anticipates the share of rechargeable cars in the Swedish market will hit 30% over the Full Year 2020.

The Polestar 2 is up to a record 12th place in September.

In the brands ranking, Volvo (+7.9%) almost exactly matches its home market evolution this month, easily returning to the pole position it holds YTD with 16% share. Volkswagen (-13%) really struggles at 12.4% share but it’s Toyota (+54%) that steals the show with the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10 by far, meaning it overtakes Kia (+6.8%) for 3rd place. Mercedes (+24.8%) also impresses and side-steps Audi (+25.4%) to #5 while Tesla (+5.6%) rallies back up 9 spots on August to #9 and Renault (+30.2%) is back to the #10 spot it holds YTD. Below, spectacular gains are a lot rarer and include Seat (+63%), Peugeot (+52.5%), Citroen (+15.8%) and Jeep (+12.7%).  New local premium offer Polestar edges up one spot on last month to a record #16 and almost doubles its share from 1.1% to 2% thanks to 583 deliveries, each being a new high mark for the brand.

The VW ID.3 lands directly at #15 in Sweden.

Model-wise, the Volvo S/V60 reclaims the top spot it holds YTD with a dominant 5.8% share, but the hero of the month is the Toyota RAV4 (+184.5%) up 4 spots on August to a record #2, 1.283 sales and 4.5% share which can be attributed to both an unlocking of supply for the Hybrid  variant and the arrival of the new PHEV model accounting for 32% of its September volume. The Volvo XC60 (+31%) remains at #3, leader in August, the Kia Niro (+28.9%) drops three ranks to #4 while the Volvo XC40 (+90%) continues to be lifted to new heights at home by its new PHEV variant. The Toyota Corolla (+40%) is the only additional Top 10 model outpacing the market whereas the VW Golf (-49.5%) and Tiguan (-31.4%) both take big hits. The Polestar 2 climbs 11 spots on last month to remain the best-selling recent launch in Sweden at #12 but there is now a serious contender below: the VW ID.3 lands directly at #15 with 1.6% share for its first month in the Swedish market. Note the landing of the ID.3 coincides with the Golf losing half its volume year-on-year despite benefitting from a new generation, which could be the sign of internal cannibalisation between the two models in Sweden.

Previous month: Sweden August 2020: Kia Niro snaps historical crown, Polestar outsells Tesla in worsening market (-13.4%)

One year ago: Sweden September 2019: Volvo S/V60 back to #1, Tesla up to record #9 and 3.7% share in market up 40%

Full September 2020 Top 50 All-brands, Top 255 All-models and Top 10 rechargeable models below.