Sweden August 2021: Kia Niro and Ceed dominate, Volvo down to #4, sales off -22.4%

The Kia Niro is the best-selling vehicle in Sweden for the second time ever.

The Swedish new car market sinks -22.4% year-on-year in August to 19.808 registrations, leading to a year-to-date tally up 20.6% to 209.749. Rechargeable cars are up a spectacular 25.8% to 9.322 and 47.1% share vs. just 29% a year ago in August 2020. This includes 4.781 BEVs, up 126.1% to 24.1% share vs. 8.3% a year ago and 4.541 PHEVs, down -14.2% to 22.9% share vs. 20.7% in August 2020. Year-to-date, rechargeable cars are up 45% to 40% share, BEVs are up 137.1% to 14% share and PHEVs up 61.1% to 26% share. According to Bilsweden, the rechargeable vehicle surge essentially occurs with private buyers, not fleets.

Volkswagen (-31.5%) retains the brands top spot despite falling faster than the market, with a share in line with its YTD level at 12.9% vs. 13%. Kia (-17.1%) improves to 11.8% share and remains in 2nd place, whereas it only holds 9.2% year-to-date. Toyota (-29.2%) is up one spot on July to land on the third step of the podium with 8.9% share vs. 8.6% so far this year, which means homegrown behemoth Volvo (-54.6%) implodes to 4th place overall with just 7.9% of its home market vs. 16.8% year-to-date. Although August is traditionally a weak month for Volvo (it hasn’t ranked #1 in years), we had yet to see the carmaker rank so low at home. BMW (-2.7%) resists well and gains one spot on last month to #5 but the best performer this month is Ford (+45.8%) up six ranks on July to #6 with 5.4% share vs. just 2.3% YTD. Hyundai (-12.8%) also resists but Skoda (-24.3%), Mercedes (-31.5%) and Audi (-35%) all lose share. MG is up six spots to #13, with Opel (+348.1%), Dacia (+201.9%), Alfa Romeo (+73.7%) and Subaru (+64%) all sporting surreal gains. Finally, notice newcomer Lynk & Co back inside the Top 30 at #29.

Model-wise, after snapping its first Swedish crown in August 2020, the Kia Niro (-18.9%) repeats this feat this month with a solid 5% share, 74% of its August volume going to the EV variant. Kia even manages a superb 1-2 for the second month running with last month’s leader the Kia Ceed (+25.2%) ending August in 2nd place overall, two-thirds of its volume going to the PHEV variant. The Toyota RAV4 (-22.1%) soars four spots on July to land on the third step off the podium. Below, two recent BEV launches surge ahead: the VW ID.4 is up 23 ranks on last month to #4 and the MG ZS up 24 to #6. The best-selling Volvo this month is the XC40 (-38%) down two to #7. The Ford Kuga (+193.5%) is up 23 spots to #8 and the Dacia Duster (+355.7%) is up 30 to break into the Swedish Top 10 for the first time at #9, previous best was #12 in December 2017.

Previous month: Sweden July 2021: Kia places Ceed and Niro atop market off -26.2%

One year ago: Sweden August 2020: Kia Niro snaps historical crown, Polestar outsells Tesla in worsening market (-13.4%)

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