Germany March 2022: Tesla Model 3 #2, Cupra Formentor (+170.5%) up to #4 in market off -17.5%

The Cupra Formentor smashes its ranking, volume and share records in Germany.

The German new car market is off -17.5% year-on-year in March to 241,330 units, the first fall of the year so far. The year-to-date volume now stands at 625,954 sales, down -4.6% over the First Quarter of 2021. Volkswagen (-30.7%) falls much faster than the market to a weak 16% share vs. 17.9% so far this year. Audi (-2.2%) sports the best performance in the Top 10, accessing the 2nd place overall with 9% share, its highest since January 2020. Mercedes (-26%) retrogrades to #3 while BMW (-15.5%) stays in 4th position. Ford (-6.7%) resists well and is up two spots on February to #5, leaping past Skoda (-27.4%) and Opel (-37.8%). Renault (-21.1%) and Fiat (-20.5%) round out the Top 10 with weak results. Tesla (+117.3%) lurks just behind at #11 with an all-time high 4% share, also hit in September 2021 when it ranked #10. Cupra (+186.2%) does even better at a record #16, with Dacia (+35.1%), Kia (+12.8%), Mazda (+10.8%) and Toyota (+0.1%) also up in the remainder of the Top 20. Notice also Polestar (+174.5%) gearing up beautifully at #31.

Over in the models ranking, the VW Golf (-35.4%), although easily #1, continues its fall to hell with just 3.1% share vs. 3.9% so far this year. As the end of quarter is here, the Tesla Model 3 (+49.1%) advances to #2 for the month but ranks at a more realistic #10 over Q1 2022. The VW Tiguan (-37.8%) is knocked down to #3, but the surprise of the month is just below: the Cupra Formentor (+170.5%) is up 13 spots on its previous best of #17 in February to land directly at a barely believable 4th place overall, a world best. It also breaks its share record to 1.9% and sells more than double any Seat model… The Fiat 500 lineup (+22.4%) braves the negative context and is up three ranks on last month to #5 while the VW Transporter (+13.7%) is up 10 to #8 and secures the only additional gain in the Top 10. Notice also the Audi A3 (-2.4%) down moderately year-on-year and up four spots to #6. The Tesla Model Y (#23) is the best-selling recent launch by far, distancing the VW Taigo (#60) and Audi Q4 (#101).

Previous month: Germany February 2022: Tesla Model 3 and Cupra Formentor shine in market up 3.2%

One year ago: Germany March 2021: Opel, Hyundai fuel market up 35.9% on 2020 but down -15.4% on 2019

Full March 2022 Top 50 All-brands and Top 300 All-models below.