Switzerland March 2026: BYD smashes records, VW Golf remains on top

The VW Golf repeats at #1 after not winning for over 7 years.

The Swiss new car market is up 7.2% year-on-year in March to 23,258 units, tilting the year-to-date tally into positive territory at +0.6% to 52,982. 4×4 sales are up 9.2% to 12,217 and 52.5% share vs. 51.6% a year ago in March 2025 and are up 0.6% YTD to 27,025 and an unchanged 51% share. Petrol sales are off -8% to 4,894 and 21% share vs. 24.5% last year (down -11.6% YTD to 11,681 and 22% share), diesel is off -25.5% to 1,198 and 5.2% share vs. 7.4% (down -26.8% YTD to 3,004 and 5.7% share, HEVs (including MHEVs) gain 7.6% to 8,884 and 38.2% share vs. 38.1% (up 3.6% YTD to 20,450 and 38.6% share), PHEVs are up 38.9% to 2,894 and 12.4% share vs. 9.6% (up 31.3% YTD to 6,432 and 12.1% share) and BEVs soar 21.9% to 5,388 and 23.2% share vs. 20.4% (up 6.3% YTD to 11,414 and 21.5% share vs. 20.4%).

Volkswagen (+26.1%) cements its dominance of the Swiss brands charts with 11.3% share, it is followed in March by BMW (+19.2%) and Skoda (+14.2%), with BMW also overtaking Skoda in the Q1 ranking at #2. Audi (+2.4%) and Mercedes (-3.1%) are lukewarm and round out the Top 5 as they do over Q1. Toyota (+25.2%) and Volvo (+22%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, BYD (+679.3%) smashes all its records at #16 with 452 sales and 1.9% share, its previous best being #22 with 198 units and 1.3% share hit just last month. Citroen (+62.8%) and Fiat (+54.9%) also impress.

Looking at the models ranking, the VW Golf (+75.4%) surges ahead to repeat in pole position with 2.3% share. Keep in mind it hadn’t ranked #1 for over 7 years before last month. Just 12 units below is the BMW X3 (+232.9%) tripling its sales YoY to #2, a ranking it now also holds over Q1 vs. #14 over the Full Year 2025. It’s unclear whether X3 figures include the new iX3. The VW Tiguan (+21%) remains in third position like YTD vs. #1 over the Full Year 2025. The BMW X1 (+26.9%) ensures the Top 5 is identical to the Q1 order. Notice also the Skoda Elroq (+165.4%) at #9, the Skoda Enyaq (+53%) at #10 and the Dacia Sandero (+52.9%) at #12. The BYD Seal U (+1388.9%) cracks the Top 20 for the first time at #18.

Previous month: Switzerland February 2026: VW Golf signs first win in over 7 years

One year ago: Switzerland March 2025: Nissan (+66.8%), Renault (+45.5%) highlight negative market

Full March 2026 Top 65 All brands and Top 392 All models below.