Belgium Full Year 2021: BMW topples VW to #1, Citroen C3 best-seller in market down -11.2%

BMW is the best-selling carmaker in Belgium in 2021.

Discover 65 years of Belgian Historical Data here.

28/01 update: Now with Top 20 models and Top 5 models for Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders.

New car sales in Belgium fall a further -11.2% year-on-year in 2021 to 383,123 units after dropping -21.5% in 2020. Fleet sales account for 59.7% of the market in 2021 vs. 56.3% in 2020 whereas private sales drop to 40.3% vs. 43.6% last year. We have a change of guard in the brands ranking: BMW (+7.1%) defies the negative context to topple Volkswagen (-13.8%) and sign its first ever annual win in Belgium. Peugeot (-15.1%) stays in third place but is in trouble whereas Audi (-0.1%) is stable and gains two spots on last year as a result, ending 2021 at #4. Mercedes (-13.3%) remains in fifth position while Renault (-36.7%) implodes and drops two ranks to #6. BMW ends up being the only year-on-year gainer in the Top 10 as Toyota (-2.7%) resists but Skoda (-21.8%), Opel (-13.1%) and Citroen (-12.3%) underperform. Further down, notice MG (+440.6%), Polestar (+112.1%), Ssangyong (+20.6%), Tesla (+9.8%), Porsche (+5.8%), Mazda (+5.1%) and Kia (+4.5%) bucking the negative trend. Lynk & Co lands directly at #35 while Cupra ends its first full year in market at #36.

The Citroen C3 is the best-selling vehicle in Belgium in 2021.

Over in the models ranking, the Citroen C3 takes the lead with 2.4% share just above the Volvo XC40 at 2.3%. The Mini Cooper closes out the podium at 1.8%, the same share as the Hyundai Tucson, BMW X1 and Dacia Sandero all in tow. The Fiat 500 is at 1.7% and no less than five nameplates hold 1.6% of the market, ranking from #8 to #12: the Audi Q3, A3, BMW 3 Series and 1 Series and the Dacia Duster. Once undisputed leader, the VW Golf implodes down to #16 for the year inbetween the Peugeot 208 and 2008. The Peugeot 3008 also cracks the Top 20 at #17. Looking at sales by region, the Dacia Sandero and Duster dominate in Wallonia, the Citroen C3 and Volvo XC40 top the Brussels charts and the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1 are the best-sellers in Flanders. Fleet sales favour the Volvo XC40, BMW X1 and BMW 3 Series while private sales crown the Dacia Sandero above the Citroen C3 and Hyundai Tucson.

Previous month: Belgium November 2021: Kia, Toyota stand out in market down -17.1%

Previous year: Belgium 2020: BMW (-0.7%) catches up on Volkswagen (-24.9%) in market down -21.5%

Two years ago: Belgium 2019: Volkswagen and Golf lead, Citroen, Dacia shine, Mercedes A-Class up to #4

Full December 2021 Top 50 All-brands ranking below.

Full Year 2021 Top 70 All-brands vs. Full Year 2020 figures, Top 20 models and Top 5 models by region below.