Germany private sales August 2026: BMW X1 #1 again, Citroen C3/Aircross up to #3

The Citroen C3/C3 Aircross is the third favourite model with German buyers in August.

German private buyers purchased 86,301 new cars in August, a splendid 17% year-on-year improvement. This represents a 40.6% private sales ratio (PSR), vastly above the 35.6% of a year ago in August 2025. Year-to-date, private sales are up 9.4% to 695,618 and 35.4% PSR vs. 33.9% over the same period last year and 32.5% in 2024.

Volkswagen can only muster 9.9% share with a poor 26.5% PSR, followed by Mercedes (34.6% PSR) at 8.3% share, Skoda (34.8% PSR) at 6.3% and BMW (26.2% PSR) at 5.7%. All aforementioned brands trail the market’s PSR. For its part Dacia (83.8% PSR) remains in 5th place, a level it also holds YTD. The rest of the Top 10 outclasses the market’s PSR, with Fiat the best performer at 74.3%, followed by Renault at 68.9%, Kia at 58.6%, Hyundai at 58.5% and Ford at 42.3%. Tesla (86.1%) climbs back up to #15 while Leapmotor (89.5%) ranks #19 vs. #21 year-to-date.

Model-wise, the BMW X1 (47.4% PSR) repeats at #1 for its third win this year after last April. The Tesla Model Y (79% PSR) remains the best-seller year-to-date but ranks #16 in August. The VW T-Roc (42.4%) stays at #2 but the performers of the month are the Citroen C3/C3 Aircross (62.4%) up 6 spots on last month to #3 and the Hyundai Tucson (67.2%) up five to #4. The Skoda Elroq (67.2%) rounds out the Top 5 while the Tesla Model 3 (92.5%) is up from #226 in July to #6 this month. The Cupra Raval (89.2%) also shines at #7.

Previous month: Germany private sales July 2026: BMW X1 best-seller, Mini and Citroen C3 shine

One year ago: Germany private sales August 2025: VW T-Roc #1, ID.3 vastly outsells Golf

Full August 2026 Top 63 All brands and Top XXX All models below.