Sweden February 2021: Volvo (+10.8%), Toyota (+19.9%), Peugeot (+33%) headline market up 5.3%

The Peugeot 2008 is up 9-fold year-on-year in Sweden in February.

Against the European negative trend, new car sales in Sweden lodge another month in positive in February at +5.3% year-on-year to 22.837 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 12.8% to 43.410. This is in part due to particularly low year-ago registrations. Rechargeable cars account for 34.8% of the Swedish market this month vs. 25% a year ago. PHEV sales are up 63% and account for a whopping 82% of all rechargeable sales while BEV sales are down -1.1%. This is linked to changes in the Bonus Malus system due in April when PHEV will be hit with an average of SEK 10.000 lower bonus whereas BEVs will benefit from a corresponding increase.

Volvo (+10.9%) doubles the market growth to remain firmly in control of its home brands ranking at 22.6% share vs. 21.7% so far this year. In contrast, Volkswagen (-9.8%) doesn’t at all take advantage of the positive trend and falls to 12.5% share. Below, Kia (+0.7%), Toyota (+19.9%) and Mercedes (+8.9%) are all in positive. Peugeot (+33%) and Seat (+20.7%) post the largest gains in the Top 10. Below, a handful of brands score extravagant gains on the back on weak year-ago sales: these are Subaru (+354.8%), Mazda (+297.2%), Nissan (+157.7%), Citroen (+134.3%) and Opel (+110.1%).

The models ranking is very stable with the January Top 5 unchanged. The Volvo S/V60 (-2.8%) goes against the positive market trend but remains in pole position with a strong 7.3% share, distancing the Volvo XC40 (+20.2%) and XC60 (+34.4%). The next three best-sellers triple their February 2020 volumes this month: the Kia Ceed (+206.1%), Toyota RAV4 (+238.9%) and VW T-Roc (+250.5%) all show insolent health. Notice also the Nissan Qashqai (+359%), Peugeot 2008 (+786.4%), Citroen C3 (+383.3%), Opel Grandland X (+548%) and Subaru Outback (+640%) all posting surreal gains. The Polestar 2 (#44) is the best-selling recent launch just above the VW ID.3 (#46).

Previous month: Sweden January 2021: Market up 22.5% on low year-ago comparison

One year ago: Sweden February 2020: Volvo XC40 up to record 2nd place in market down -6.3%

Full February 2021 Top 45 All-brands and Top 240 All-models below.