Switzerland May 2021: Audi Q3 now #2 year-to-date in market down -28.8% on two years ago

The Q3 helps Audi sales up 113.3% in May in Switzerland.

The Swiss new car market bounces back up 43.9% year-on-year in May to 19.991 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 25.2% to 98.542. However May 2021 volumes remain well below their pre-pandemic level at -28.8% on May 2019 (28.060) and -23.5% year-to-date (128.745). 4×4 sales trail the market at +33.3% to 9.116 sales and 45.6% share vs. 49.2% a year ago and +14.5% year-to-date to 47.157 and 47.9% share vs. 52.3% over the same period in 2020. Petrol sales (+12.1%) at 9.002 units go from 57.8% share a year ago to 45% this month and from 54.8% year-to-date in 2020 to 46.1% and 45.417 units so far this year (+5.2%). Diesel (+15.4%) also loses share from 20% to 16% at 3.198 and from 23.8% to 16.1% year-to-date at -15.2% to 15.873. In contrast, HEV is up 128.9% to 4.008 and 20% share vs. 12.6% in May 2020 and up 130.9% year-to-date to 20.410 and 20.7% share vs. 11.2% in 2020. BEV is up 178.9% to 1.919 and 9.6% share vs. 5% and up 98.8% YTD to 8.629 and 8.8% vs. 5.5% and PHEV is up an even more vigorous 192% to 1.837 and 9.2% share vs. 4.5% a year ago and up 141.9% YTD to 8.070 and 8.2% share vs. 4.2%. All in all, alternatively fuelled vehicles hold 39% of the Swiss market in May vs. 22.2% a year ago and 37.8% year-to-date vs. 21.4% in 2020.

Big event in the brands ranking: Volkswagen (+78.4%) reclaims the top spot both for the month and year-to-date at 12.4% and 10.4% share respectively, taking advantage of a weak month by Mercedes (+21.1%) down to #4 in May. Skoda (+80.1%) and BMW (+52.6%) complete a podium 100% outpacing the average market growth, while Audi (+113.3%) more than doubles its sales year-on-year to score the largest gain in the Top 15. No other Top 10 brand manages to beat the market, with Renault (-3.9%) even in negative and Seat (+38.7%), Ford (+29.4%), Toyota (+26.1%) and Volvo (+24%) posting lukewarm gains in context. Further down, Jaguar (+188.9%), Honda (+143.4%), Kia (+135.4%), Alfa Romeo (+80%), Jeep (+75.8%), Suzuki (+72.1%), Mazda (+71.2%) and Citroen (+69.6%) shine.

Over in the models ranking, the Skoda Octavia (+38.4%) holds onto the top spot, trails the market slightly but ends the month with a superior market share at 2.7% vs. 2.3% so far this year. The Audi Q3 (+137%) gains two spots on April to rank #2, now also holding the same spot year-to-date, up from #5 last month. The Octavia and Q3 are the only two nameplates surpassing the 2% share milestone, as Switzerland is the most fragmented market in the world. The Skoda Fabia (+240%) rallies back up 13 spots on the back of discounts for the outgoing generation while the VW Golf (+71.8%) is back up 15 ranks to a more palatable 4th place in May but still ranks at a paltry #10 so far in 2021 vs. #4 in 2020. The Skoda Karoq (+120.2%) makes it three Skodas in the Top 5, it distances the VW Tiguan (+35.4%), Fiat 500 (+63.9%) and Volvo XC40 (+43.9%) more discreet in their year-on-year gains. The VW Polo (+116.7%) shoots up 12 ranks to #9. The VW ID. 3 continues to top recent launches but drops 11 spots on last month to #19. It is followed by the Skoda Enyaq (#55) and Cupra Formentor (#62).

Previous month: Switzerland April 2021: VW ID.3 breaks ranking record in market down -22.7% on two years ago

One year ago: Switzerland May 2020: Mercedes snaps brands lead in market down -50.5%

Full May 2021 Top 52 All-brands and Top 315 All-models below.