Spain April 2023: MG ZS up to #6, market slows down its growth

The MG ZS cracks the Spanish Top 10 for the first time.

After climbing 51.4% in January, 19.2% in February and 66.1% in March, new car sales in Spain markedly slow down their growth in April at just +8.2% year-on-year to 74,749 units. This is almost 40% below the 123,833 registrations of pre-pandemic April 2019. The year-to-date tally is now up 33.7% to 312,314. Worryingly, private sales recede -1.9% year-on-year to 28,381 and 38% share vs. 41.9% in March 2022. Company sales match the market at +8.9% to 30,615 and 41% share vs. 40.7% a year ago. It is rental sales (+30.6%) that push the market up at 15,753 units and 21.1% share vs. 17.4% over the same month last year. Year-to-date, private sales (+20.6% to 128,931) and company sales (+26.4%) to 129,399 trail the market while rental sales (+123.1% to 53,984) here too over-perform. The best performing regions this month are Aragon (+27.6%), La rioja (+22.9%), Baleares (+15.7%) and Madrid (+15.6%).

In the brands ranking, Volkswagen (-2.8%) reclaims the top spot for the first time this year with 8.5% share. It distances the year-to-date leader Toyota (-3.6%) while Seat (+4.4%) completes an underperforming podium. Peugeot (+26.7%) is in outstanding shape but drops two spots on March to #4. Renault (+35.4%), Mercedes (+23.7%) and Audi (+14.4%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas Citroen (-20.9%) and Hyundai (-18.4%) both sink. Further down, MG (+211.3%) smashes its volume (2,406), share (3.2%) and ranking (#16) records, outselling such established brands as Fiat, Nissan, Mazda, Volvo and Mini. Fellow Chinese fare Lynk & Co (+177.3%) also impresses as do Tesla (+1123.1%), Lexus (+250.2%) and Porsche (+105.3%).

Model-wise, the Seat Arona (+2%) continues to dominate as it also does year-to-date, with the Dacia Sandero (+5.1%) back up 5 spots on March to #2 and the Renault Clio (+111.5%) up 27 to #3. Leader a year ago, the VW T-Roc (-25.8%) is down to #4 but 12 ranks month-on-month. The Seat Ateca (+84.7%) is inside its home Top 5 for the second time this month at #5. The event of the month is the 6th place of the MG ZS (+40600%!) up from #103 in March and the first time an MG model manages to crack the Spanish Top 10. It seems like nothing can stop the spectacular progress of the Chinese brand in Europe. The Peugeot 2008 (+159.9%) follows at #7 ahead of the Opel Corsa (+132%), Fiat 500 (+35.1%) and Citroen C4 (+27.2%) all beating the market.

Previous month: Spain March 2023: Seat Arona and Toyota C-HR top market surging 66.1%

One year ago: Spain April 2022: VW T-Roc signs first ever win in market off -12.1%

Full April 2023 Top 53 All brands and Top XXX All models below.