Germany October 2022: VW, Audi, Skoda help lift market up 16.6%, Cupra above Seat, Fiat 500 hits record

The Fiat 500 lineup is up to a record 4th place in Germany.

28/11 update: Now with Mercedes EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE and EQS splits.

New car sales in Germany rally back up 16.6% year-on-year in October to 208,353 units, keeping in mind October 2021 was down a ghastly -34.9% on the prior year. The year-to-date tally remains in negative at -5.6% to 2,073,275. Private sales can’t keep up with the market at +9% year-on-year to 73,671 and 35.4% share vs. 37.8% a year ago, company sales shoot up 32.4% to 71,573 and 34.3% share vs. 30.2% in October 2021, dealer sales drop -1.8% to 41,735 and 20% share vs. 23.8% last year and rental sales soar 58.1% to 21,230 and 10.2% share vs. 7.5% a year ago.

In the brands charts, the main VW Group brands catch up on particularly drab year-ago volumes and easily beat the market. Volkswagen is up 45.9% to 19.8% share vs. 18.5% so far this year, Audi surges 94.8% to #3 and Skoda gains 50.8% to #6. Mercedes (+18.5%) edges past the average growth to remain in 2nd place whereas BMW (-13.9%) is in difficulty at 7.2% share vs. 8.1% year-to-date. Ford (+19.3%) is up three spots on September to round out the Top 5. Toyota (+46%) also advances faster than the market at #9 but Renault (-20.4%), Opel (-20%) and Hyundai (+0.9%) can’t do the same. Below, Cupra (+280.4%) manages to outsell sister brand Seat (+3.4%) for the first time in German history. Tesla (+116.8%) is down 12 ranks on last month to #18 but soars year-on-year. Notice also NIO making its first appearance at #47 but with no model detail.

Model-wise, the podium is back to being 100% Volkswagen like it is year-to-date. The Golf (+89.5%) returns to the top spot with 3.5% share, distancing the Tiguan (+210.2%) and T-Roc (+16.4%). The Fiat 500 lineup (+85.9%) equals its German ranking record at #4, also hit in September 2021. The Ford Kuga (+22.5%) is up four spots on September to #5 while the VW Passat (+50.6%) ensures the entire Top 6 outraces the market. The Cupra Formentor (+178.6%) and Skoda Octavia (+109.9%) also impress in the remainder of the Top 10. The Audi A6 (+355.3%), Mercedes C-Class (+209.7%), Toyota Yaris/Cross (+175.7%), Audi A3 (+156.9%) and VW ID.4 (+106.9%) stand out further down.

Previous month: Germany September 2022: Tesla Model Y clear best-seller, market up 14.1%

One year ago: Germany October 2021: Market collapses -34.9%, VW T-Roc ends 30 years of Golf domination

Full October 2022 Top 52 all brands and Top 315 all models below.