Germany March 2021: Opel (+75.1%), Hyundai (+76%) fuel market up 35.9% on 2020 but down -15.4% on 2019

Opel sales are up 75% partly thanks to the new Mokka. Picture autobild.de

The German new car market is up 35.9% year-on-year in March to 292.349 registrations as year-ago volumes were hampered by Covid-19 lockdowns. This score remains down -15.4% on March 2019, so new car sales Germany have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The year-to-date tally is now down -6.4% over the same period last year to 656.452 units. Volkswagen (+36.8%) and Mercedes (+36.7%) remain close to the market gain to cement their domination, while BMW (+17%) and Audi (+17.6%) are a lot more discreet just below. Opel (+75.1%) signs a fantastic return to shape and reclaims the #5 spot year-to-date off Skoda (+39.2%) also outpacing the market albeit by a much smaller margin. Hyundai (+76%) and Renault (+63.1%) also score impressive gains in the remainder of the Top 10. Further down, notice Smart (+304.4%), Peugeot (+78.4%), Tesla (+63.6%), Mini (+58%), Citroen (+57.1%) and Mazda (+50.5%) all in great shape.

Over in the models ranking, the VW Golf (+3.9%) is up but almost ten times weaker than the market growth, resulting in ever smaller market shares, down to 4% this month and 4.1% so far this year (-25.9%). The VW Tiguan (+87.4%) surfs on its facelift to consolidate the 2nd spot it also holds year-to-date. The VW T-Roc (+70%) is up three spots on last month to make the podium 100% Volkswagen, while the Fiat Ducato (+60%) leaps up ten ranks on February to land at an outstanding 4th spot overall as the pre Summer holiday campervan season starts to gear up and people choose to travel this way rather than fly. The Mini lineup (+58%) is up four spots to #5, distancing the VW Passat (+26%), Opel Corsa (+62.9%) and Skoda Octavia (+36.5%). The VW Up (+170.2%) takes advantage of the electric variant and advances to #9. The Hyundai Kona (+169.9%) is up ten ranks on last month to #14, the Tesla Model 3 (+81.9%) is up 14 to #16 and the new Opel Mokka up 151 to #20, becoming the best-selling recent launch in Germany above the VW ID.3 (#42), Cupra Formentor (#64) and VW ID.4 (#94).

Previous month: Germany February 2021: Market off -19%, Audi (-11%) up to highest ranking in almost two years

One year ago: Germany March 2020: BMW 3 Series scores first podium in 6.5 years in market down -37.7%

Full March 2021 Top 50 brands and Top 315 models below.