Spain September 2023: MG ZS repeats at #1

The MG ZS is the best-selling vehicle in Spain for the 2nd month running.

New car sales in Spain confirms the slowdown of its growth rate with a meagre +2.3% year-on-year in September to 68,803 units. The year-to-date tally is now up 18.5% to 711,380, yet down -15.8% on the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Private sales show solid health at +9.4% to 33,155 sales and 48.2% share vs. 45.1% a year ago, while company sales are more muted yet beat the market at +4.9% to 32,096 and 46.6% share vs. 45.5% in September 2022. Pulling the market down is rental sales at an abysmal -43.9% year-on-year to just 3,552 units. Year-to-date, private sales are up 14.5% to 302,086 and 42.5% share vs. 43.9% over the same period in 2022, company sales follow the same pattern at +14.2% to 291,200 and 40.9% share vs. 42.5% last year and this time its rental sales that prop the market up at +44.7% to 118,094 and 16.6% share vs. 13.6% a year ago. Looking at sales by province, Castilla la Mancha  (+51.4%) fares best above Extremadura (+23.6%) and Cantabria (+22.8%) whereas Madrid is actually down at -6.2%.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+1.6%) edges up year-on-year to easily stay on top with 8.4% share. Like last month and year-to-date it distances Kia (-19.5%) in great difficulty. Peugeot (+3.7%) overtakes Volkswagen (-9.8%) with Citroen (+0.9%) up five spots on August to round out the Top 5. Seat (+32.8%) and BMW (+32.3%) are the additional gainers in the Top 10 but Seat points at a mediocre 9th place at home. Mercedes (-2.6%), Renault (-14.3%) and Hyundai (-21.1%) struggle. Not too far from the Top 10 is hero of the month MG (+566.6%) equalling its ranking record at #12 and breaking its share record at 4.4%. The Chinese brand sells more tham Audi, Skoda, Nissan and Ford. Smart (+550%) and Jeep (+113.2%) shine below. We welcome Xpeng in the charts with its first sale in Spain.

Model-wise, the China-imported MG ZS (+541.7%) continues to stun and lodges a second consecutive monthly win. With 3.5% share it is one percentage point above any other model, it is an emphatic win to boost. The ZS is now up to #8 in the year-to-date charts. The Peugeot 2008 (+32.8%) is up 9 spots to land in 2nd position for the month, distancing the Nissan Qashqai (+46.4%) also in great shape. The Citroen C3 (+1%) edges up at #4 ahead of the Kia Sportage (-6.9%). The Seat Arona (+166.7%), Toyota Corolla (+60.4%) and VW T-Roc (+22.3%) also impress in the remainder of the Top 10, with the Toyota C-HR (+8.9%) also strong. Still #1 year-to-date, the Dacia Sandero (-10.4%) falls to #7 this month.

Previous month: Spain August 2023: MG ZS surges to pole position

One year ago: Spain September 2022: Hyundai Tucson leads, Renault Arkana up to #2, sales up 12.7%

Full September 2023 Top 54 All brands and Top 303 All models below.