Germany January 2024: Skoda scores first ever podium finish, Dacia #10, Opel Astra #5

The Skoda Octavia is on the German podium for the 2nd time ever.

German new car sales shoot up 19.1% year-on-year in January to 213,553 units. Volkswagen (+12.1%) trails the market slightly but scores a solid 19.5% share vs. 18.2% over the Full Year 2023. Mercedes (-0.5%) is soft year-on-year but at 10% share it is well above its December level of 8.2%. Skoda (+21.3%) lands on the German podium for the very first time at #3, after ranking #4 in May 2021 and January 2023. It also breaks its share record at 7.8% with a previous best of 7.7% in January 2023, and delivers its highest monthly volume since March 2021. BMW (+44.2%) is very dynamic year-on-year but drops two spots on December to #4. Audi (+4.6%) is pushed down one rank to #5. Seat (+99.9%) and Opel (+72.4%) surge ahead to #7 and #6 respectively, whereas Ford (-9.7%) and Toyota (+2.5%) underperform. Dacia (+16.9%) signs a third ever Top 10 finish at #10, a level it also reached in December 2019 and January 2023.

The Opel Astra reaches its highest ranking in Germany in almost 7 years.

Model-wise, the VW Golf (+64.4%) delivers a surprisingly strong result, reaching 4.7% share which is its highest since August 2020 (4.9%). The VW Tiguan (+7.6%) follows at 3% of the market vs. 2.2% over the Full Year 2023. The Skoda Octavia (+38.9%) rallies back up 17 spots on December to #3, its second ever German podium finish, having also reached #3 in July 2020. The VW T-Roc (-9%) is in difficulty at #4. Outstanding score from the Opel Astra (+256%) up 9 spots on December to #5, its first Top 10 finish since January 2021 (#8) and highest ranking since March 2017 (#3). The VW Polo (+162.8%) is up two ranks on last month to #6. The Dacia Sandero (+45.7%) is up 20 ranks to #7, the nameplate’s highest ever ranking in Germany, also hit back in May 2009. The Seat Leon (+172.9%) roars up to #8.

Previous post: Germany Full Year 2023: VW Golf resists T-Roc assault

One year ago: Germany January 2023: Mercedes, Skoda, Dacia excel in disappointing market (-2.6%)

Full January 2024 Top 58 All brands and Top 325 All models below.