Netherlands March 2021: Volvo (+12.6%) places XC40 in pole position in market off -17.6%

The Volvo XC40 is #1 in the Netherlands for the 2nd time in the past 3 months. Picture ad.nl

Whereas the rest of Europe is enjoying artificially good results in March due to Covid-impacted year-ago volumes, new car sales in the Netherlands don’t follow this trend. They actually drop -17.6% year-on-year to 24.186 units on a March 2020 tally already down -24.6% on the year prior, leading to a year-to-date volume off -21.5% to 80.885. Brand leaders Volkswagen (-20.3%) and Kia (-19.4%) both fall faster than the market but it is enough for Kia to snap the #2 spot year-to-date off BMW (-1.5%) resisting well year-on-year in third place. Volvo (+12.6%) and Opel (+0.6%) are the only gainers among the Top 10 brands, with Toyota (-25.2%), Skoda (-22.5%) and Mercedes (-21.8%) hit the hardest. Further down, Jeep (+273.7%), Smart (+143.8%), MG (+128%), Fiat (+84.5%), Lexus (+56.4%), Dacia (+16.9%) and Porsche (+12.1%) show insolent health while Polestar edges up one spot on last month to #26.

Model-wise, the Volvo XC40 (+49.1%) posts a year-on-year surge to score a second win in the past 3 months – and ever thanks to its new PHEV and EV variants, distancing the Opel Corsa (+44.1%) also in outstanding form. The Kia Picanto (+1.9%) is knocked down one spot to #3, the Toyota Yaris (-2.7%) is up 8 to #4 and the Peugeot 208 (+14.7%) up 6 to #5. The Toyota Aygo (-21.6%) makes it five small cars in the March Top 6. The Peugeot 2008 (+51.7%) secures the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10 and sees its YTD sales up 164.9% on the same period last year. Up 80 ranks on February, the VW ID.4 becomes the most successful recent launch in the Netherlands (<12 months), distancing the Opel Mokka (#53) and Polestar 2 (#67) while the VW ID.3 is down to a paltry #123 with 0.2% share.

Previous month: Netherlands February 2021: Kia and Ford Fiesta top market down -26.3%

One year ago: Netherlands March 2020: Skoda, Mini only Top 20 gainers in market down -24.6%

Full March 2021 Top 45 All-brands and Top 260 All-models below.