Spain May 2022: Seat and Arona reclaim control of market down -10.9%

The Seat Arona is by far the best-selling vehicle in Spain in May.

New car sales in Spain drop another -10.9% year-on-year in May to 84,977 units, with sales to rental companies (-41.4% to 18,235) the single channel responsible for this month’s fall. Indeed private sales are up 4.3% to 34,666 and company sales up 3.3% to 18.235. The year-to-date overall volume is now down -11.5% to 318,487 with private sales up 2.1% to 141,581, company sales down -1.4% to 134,472 and rental sales imploding -50% to 42,434. In the absence of stock, manufacturers indeed prioritise private and company sales, much more profitable than bulk rental sales. Looking at provinces, only four out of 18 are in positive: Canarias (+42.1%), Ceuta y Melilla (+24.7%), Baleares (+22.2%) and Murcia (+1.7%). In contrast, Cataluña is down -10.9% and Madrid off -18.9%.

In the brands ranking, Seat (-25%) reclaims control of its home market for the 2nd time in the past four months with 9.6% share and despite a ghastly year-on-year fall. Seat rallies back up from #5 to #2 in the year-to-date charts as a result. Toyota (+24.9%) impresses, remains in 2nd place and stays in the year-to-date lead with 9.1% share. Hyundai (+23.1%) is up two spots to #3, Peugeot (+12.7%) is up three to #4 but Volkswagen (-24.5%), leader in April, has a rough month and falls to #5. Kia (+5.7%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10 with Citroen (-25.9%) and Renault (-23%) hit the hardest. Further down the charts, MG (+2846.7%), Honda (+68.2%), Alfa Romeo (+38.1%), Dacia (+22.6%), Mitsubishi (+8.4%) and Jeep (+6.5%) post the only upticks in the remainder of the Top 30.

Model-wise, the Seat Arona (+13.3%) is back in the top spot for the 2nd time this year and in the past 12 months, and it’s a clear victory this month with 4.8% share vs. 3.4% for the #2, the Hyundai Tucson (+49.5%). As a result the Arona is now the market leader year-to-date. In fact, the Top 6 models all brave the negative conditions and post year-on-year gains. The Peugeot 2008 (+79.2%) is the most dynamic of them and shoots up 34 spots on April to land on the third step of the podium. The Toyota Corolla is up 48.6% to #4, the VW T-Roc up 5.1% to #5 and the Fiat 500 is up 17.2% and 11 ranks on last month to #6. The Dacia Sandero (+94.3%) and Toyota C-HR (+12.3%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. Finally, notice the Seat Leon (-50.4%), once the market leader in Spain, down to #26 for the month and #28 year-to-date.

Previous month: Spain April 2022: VW T-Roc signs first ever win in market down -12.1%

One year ago: Spain May 2021: Seat Arona repeats at #1 in market down -24% on two year ago

Full May 2022 Top 42 All-brands and Top 280 All-models below.