Market down -6.7%, Hyundai (+25.5%), Kia (+24.8%) shine, VW Golf back to #1 – Best Selling Cars Blog

Hyundai sales are up 25.5% in a market down -6.7%

26/03 update: Now with Top 50 models.

According to data by ACEA, the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) drops -6.7% year-on-year to 804,028 units, the lowest result for the month in at least 22 years. Once again the Top 5 markets display varied results, with the UK up 15%, Spain up 6.6%, Germany up 3.2%, France down -13% and Italy down -22.6%. The best performers among the rest of the markets are Iceland (+47.3%), Portugal (+39.2%), Greece (+27.8%), Romania (+24.9%) and Cyprus (+23.2%), while the worst are Norway (-23.8%), Finland (-22.9%), Slovenia (-21.3%) and Austria (-18.9%).

The Volkswagen Group (-11.6%) keeps the lead of the groups ranking above Stellantis (-17.5%) in difficulty. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (-7.4%) fares slightly worse than the market in a poor performing podium. On the other hand Hyundai-Kia (+25.1%) posts another splendid gain in 4th place, and the next three groups defy the market conditions with positive results: the BMW Group (+1.3%), Toyota Group (+4.7%) and Daimler (+1.9%) are all up. Tesla (+184.3%) scores a surreal gain to end at #10.

Over in the brands ranking, Volkswagen (-16.6%) easily keeps the leas but falls significantly, it is followed like last month by Toyota (+4.8%) very solid and Peugeot (-23.4%) struggling on a high year-ago comparison base. Mercedes (+3%) advances two spots to #4 while BMW (-4.4%) stays at #5 ahead of Skoda (-12.4%), Renault (-13.3%) and Audi (-3.5%). Kia (+24.8%) secures the largest gain in the Top 10 at #9 with Hyundai (+25.5%) doing even better at #11. Dacia (+13.6%), Tesla (+184.3%), Mini (+26.3%), Mazda (+8.6%), Honda (+68.3%), Porsche (+8.1%) and DS (+13.1%) also defy the market with significant year-on-year gains.

Model-wise, the VW Golf (-7.1%) roughly follows the market to return to the top spot for the first time since last June after falling to #36 in November. However it only ranks #3 in the year-to-date charts. The Peugeot 208 (-20.2%) endures a steep fall at #2 but becomes the best-seller YTD while last month’s leader the Dacia Sandero (-1.1%) resists well year-on-year but drops to #3 and #2 YTD. The Citroen C3 (-16.2%) is up 14 spots on January to land at a record 4th place, also hit in February 2019. The Peugeot 2008 (-26.5%) is knocked down two ranks to #5 ahead of the Opel Corsa (-20%), Renault Clio (-24.1%) and Fiat Panda (-24.4%) all down significantly. In contrast the Peugeot 3008 (+5.5%) makes it thee Peugeots in the Top 10 and the Hyundai Tucson (+17%) returns to the Top 10 at #10. The new Toyota Yaris Cross is down 10 ranks to #18 and is one of three recent launches in the Top 50 alongside the Tesla Model Y (#35) and Renault Arkana (#48). 

Previous month: Europe January 2022: Toyota, Kia defy market down -2.4%, Sandero #1, Yaris Cross in Top 10

One year ago: Europe February 2021: Volumes down -20.3%, Peugeot places 208 #1 and 2008 #2 

Full February 2022 Top 10 groups, Top 30 brands and Top 50 models below.