Sweden May 2021: Volkswagen and Volvo XC60 lead in market down -23.8% on two years ago

The Volvo XC60 is the best-selling vehicle in Sweden in May.

The Swedish new car market soars 53.2% year-on-year to 24.327 units on depressed year-ago volumes, with the year-to-date tally now up 35.8% to 137.068. Note May 2021 volumes remain down -23.8% on May 2019 pre-pandemic levels. At 9.500 units, rechargeable vehicles account for 39.1% of the market vs. 21.6% a year ago, including 5.547 PHEV (+114.2%) and 3.953 BEV (+374%).

Volkswagen (+103.7%) almost doubles the market growth to easily remain in the brands top spot for the second month in a row while Volvo (+5.7%) underperform once again, and its sales evolution seems to indicate it is affected by production disruptions due to the microchip shortage. Toyota (+121.4%) bypasses Kia (+34.9%) to land on the third step of the podium. Peugeot (+97.3%) and Skoda (+79.4%) also outpace the market in the remainder of the Top 10 while Suzuki (+121.3%), Tesla (+109.2%) and Porsche (+106%) shine further down. Among recent launches, Polestar remains at #19, Cupra is up two spots on April to #28 and for its second month in market, Chinese carmaker Lynk & Co (a brand by Geely, Volvo’s owner) breaks into the Top 30 at #29. For its part MG lands at #35 for its first appearance in the Swedish charts as a Chinese carmaker.

The models ranking is completely reshuffled this month, partly due to Volvo’s weakness. The Volvo XC60 (+56.5%) gains five spots on April to snap its first monthly win since October 2017 at 4% share. The Toyota Corolla (+411.1%) is up 5-fold year-on-year and seven ranks on last month to end at a record 2nd ace with 3.2% share, edging past the Kia Niro (+46.3%) and Ceed (+40.3%). The Volvo XC40 (+189.5%) remains in 5th position and holds onto the #2 spot year-to-date while last month’s leader, the VW ID.4, deflates to #6 as we predicted as backorders are fulfilled. Still #1 year-to-date, the Volvo S/V60 (-39.3%) freefalls to 10th place for the month. Notice also the Toyota C-HR (+35.9%) up to #12, the Skoda Enyaq up 31 spots on last month to #15 and the Peugeot 3008 (+148.6%) up eight to #16. Below the ID.4 and Enyaq, the VW ID.3 (#17) and Polestar 2 (#25) are the next best-selling recent launches.

Previous month: Sweden April 2021: VW ID.4 soars to #1 in market up 15.6%

One year ago: Sweden May 2020: Covid-19 crisis deepens to -50.2%, Hyundai and Land Rover up

Full May 2021 Top 50 All-brands and Top 240 All-models below.