January to September 2014: Volkswagen remained the largest passenger vehicle manufacturer and top-selling car brand in Europe with the VW Golf Europeβs favorite car model. VW was followed by the French PSA and Renault groups as Europeβs top car-producing conglomerates and by Ford and Opel as the top-selling marques. Sales of VW Golfs increased even faster than for the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio.
Best-Selling Car Manufacturers in Europe in 2014 (Q1-Q3)
The top-selling passenger vehicle manufacturers in the European Union and EFTA during the first three quarters of 2014 according to car sales statistics released by the ACEA were:
Manufacturers | % Share 2014 | % Share 2013 | Sales Q1-3/ 2014 | Sales Q1-3/ 2013 | % Change |
ALL BRANDS** | 9β906β668 | 9β361β719 | 5.8 | ||
VW Group | 25.3 | 24.8 | 2β505β269 | 2β325β388 | 7.7 |
VOLKSWAGEN | 12.3 | 12.4 | 1β215β644 | 1β161β602 | 4.7 |
AUDI | 5.6 | 5.7 | 557β791 | 534β293 | 4.4 |
SKODA | 4.5 | 4 | 443β090 | 373β896 | 18.5 |
SEAT | 2.5 | 2.3 | 246β397 | 219β624 | 12.2 |
Others (1) | 0.4 | 0.4 | 42β347 | 35β973 | 17.7 |
PSA Group | 10.8 | 10.9 | 1β065β457 | 1β017β271 | 4.7 |
PEUGEOT | 6 | 6 | 596β670 | 559β772 | 6.6 |
CITROEN | 4.7 | 4.9 | 468β787 | 457β499 | 2.5 |
RENAULT Group | 9.4 | 8.6 | 932β113 | 807β768 | 15.4 |
RENAULT | 6.6 | 6.3 | 655β263 | 592β250 | 10.6 |
DACIA | 2.8 | 2.3 | 276β850 | 215β518 | 28.5 |
FORD | 7.5 | 7.4 | 738β071 | 692β594 | 6.6 |
GM Group | 7.3 | 8 | 720β919 | 747β730 | -3.6 |
OPEL/VAUXHALL | 6.9 | 6.8 | 683β797 | 634β001 | 7.9 |
CHEVROLET | 0.4 | 1.2 | 36β799 | 113β443 | -67.6 |
GM (US) | 0 | 0 | 323 | 286 | 12.9 |
BMW Group | 6.3 | 6.5 | 619β875 | 604β675 | 2.5 |
BMW | 5.1 | 5.2 | 508β943 | 487β761 | 4.3 |
MINI | 1.1 | 1.2 | 110β932 | 116β914 | -5.1 |
FIAT Group | 5.9 | 6.1 | 588β371 | 573β517 | 2.6 |
FIAT | 4.6 | 4.8 | 454β670 | 444β770 | 2.2 |
LANCIA/CHRYSLER | 0.6 | 0.6 | 55β869 | 57β255 | -2.4 |
ALFA ROMEO | 0.5 | 0.5 | 45β557 | 50β851 | -10.4 |
JEEP | 0.3 | 0.2 | 25β350 | 17β256 | 46.9 |
Others (2) | 0.1 | 0 | 6β925 | 3β385 | 104.6 |
DAIMLER | 5.4 | 5.6 | 534β433 | 523β165 | 2.2 |
MERCEDES | 5 | 5.1 | 492β891 | 473β879 | 4 |
SMART | 0.4 | 0.5 | 41β542 | 49β286 | -15.7 |
TOYOTA Group | 4.2 | 4.3 | 418β385 | 405β680 | 3.1 |
TOYOTA | 4 | 4.1 | 397β243 | 388β469 | 2.3 |
LEXUS | 0.2 | 0.2 | 21β142 | 17β211 | 22.8 |
NISSAN | 3.6 | 3.5 | 361β136 | 327β214 | 10.4 |
HYUNDAI | 3.3 | 3.5 | 326β285 | 327β352 | -0.3 |
KIA | 2.8 | 2.8 | 272β600 | 259β654 | 5 |
VOLVO | 1.8 | 1.7 | 182β370 | 163β303 | 11.7 |
MAZDA | 1.4 | 1.2 | 138β556 | 113β896 | 21.7 |
SUZUKI | 1.3 | 1.2 | 126β293 | 113β609 | 11.2 |
JAGUAR LAND ROVER Group | 1.1 | 1.1 | 111β730 | 105β514 | 5.9 |
LAND ROVER | 0.9 | 0.9 | 89β192 | 83β552 | 6.7 |
JAGUAR | 0.2 | 0.2 | 22β538 | 21β962 | 2.6 |
HONDA | 1.1 | 1.2 | 104β715 | 111β219 | -5.8 |
MITSUBISHI | 0.7 | 0.6 | 73β482 | 56β176 | 30.8 |
OTHER** | 0.9 | 0.9 | 86β608 | 85β994 | 0.7 |
(1) VW Group: VW βotherβ include Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Porsche | |||||
(2) FIAT Group: FIAT βotherβ include Dodge, Ferrari, Maserati | |||||
(*) data for Malta n.a. | |||||
(**) ACEA estimates |
There were only minor changes in the order of the top passenger vehicle manufacturers in Europe during the first nine months of 2014 compared to a year ago. Only three manufacturing groups had weaker sales.
The Volkswagen Group outperformed the broader market to once again increase the groupβs share of the European new car market to more than a quarter. The PSA Group underperformed slightly, mostly due to continued weakness in the Citroen brand, although Peugeot sales were also unspectacular.
The Renault Group saw the most growth of the larger groups with both Renault and Dacia experiencing strong growth.
Ford narrowly outperformed the broader market while the GM Group was the only major group with weaker sales. In GMβs case due to Chevrolet withdrawing from the European market. GMβs weak performance allowed Ford to reclaim its position as the fourth largest car-manufacturing group in Europe.
Strong growth by Nissan allowed the Japanese manufacturer to overtake Hyundai. The South Korean company and Honda were the only other manufacturing groups with negative numbers.
Mitsubishi (+31%) were the most improved manufacturing group in Europe during the first three quarters of 2014. Mazda (+22%) and Suzuki (+11%) also experienced strong growth.
Best-Selling Car Brands in Europe in 2014 (Q1-Q3)
The top-selling car marques in the European Union and EFTA during the first three quarters of 2014 according to car sales statistics released by the ACEA were:
Brand Rank | Manufacturers | Sales Q1-3/2014 | Sales Q1-3/2013 | % Change |
1 | VOLKSWAGEN | 1β215β644 | 1β161β602 | 4.7 |
2 | FORD | 738β071 | 692β594 | 6.6 |
3 | OPEL/VAUXHALL | 683β797 | 634β001 | 7.9 |
4 | RENAULT | 655β263 | 592β250 | 10.6 |
5 | PEUGEOT | 596β670 | 559β772 | 6.6 |
6 | AUDI | 557β791 | 534β293 | 4.4 |
7 | BMW | 508β943 | 487β761 | 4.3 |
8 | MERCEDES | 492β891 | 473β879 | 4 |
9 | CITROEN | 468β787 | 457β499 | 2.5 |
10 | FIAT | 454β670 | 444β770 | 2.2 |
11 | SKODA | 443β090 | 373β896 | 18.5 |
12 | TOYOTA | 397β243 | 388β469 | 2.3 |
13 | NISSAN | 361β136 | 327β214 | 10.4 |
14 | HYUNDAI | 326β285 | 327β352 | -0.3 |
15 | DACIA | 276β850 | 215β518 | 28.5 |
16 | KIA | 272β600 | 259β654 | 5 |
17 | SEAT | 246β397 | 219β624 | 12.2 |
18 | VOLVO | 182β370 | 163β303 | 11.7 |
19 | MAZDA | 138β556 | 113β896 | 21.7 |
20 | SUZUKI | 126β293 | 113β609 | 11.2 |
21 | MINI | 110β932 | 116β914 | -5.1 |
22 | HONDA | 104β715 | 111β219 | -5.8 |
23 | LAND ROVER | 89β192 | 83β552 | 6.7 |
24 | MITSUBISHI | 73β482 | 56β176 | 30.8 |
25 | LANCIA/CHRYSLER | 55β869 | 57β255 | -2.4 |
26 | ALFA ROMEO | 45β557 | 50β851 | -10.4 |
27 | SMART | 41β542 | 49β286 | -15.7 |
28 | CHEVROLET | 36β799 | 113β443 | -67.6 |
29 | JEEP | 25β350 | 17β256 | 46.9 |
30 | JAGUAR | 22β538 | 21β962 | 2.6 |
There were no changes in the rank order of the ten most-popular car brands in Europe during the first nine months of 2014 compared to a year ago. Market-leader Volkswagen underperformed the broader market while Ford and especially Opel / Vauxhall had stronger sales.
Renault was the most improved of the top brands and the only marque to have increased by double-digit percentages. Peugeot also outperformed the broader market.
Audi, BMW and Mercedes all increased sales by just over 4% while Citroen and Fiat both maintained their relative positions with increases in sales of more than 2% each.
Outside the top-ten list, Skoda overtook Toyota; Nissan passed Hyundai, while Dacia leapfrogged both Seat and Kia. Jeep (+47%) and Mitsubishi (+31%) were the most-improved brands.
Only seven brands had weaker sales during the first three quarters of 2014. Worst performer was Chevrolet with sales down by two-thirds due to the American company withdrawing from the European market. Sales of Smart cars were down 16% β a new model is due in the final quarter of the year. Alfa Romeo was the only other brand with sales down by more than 10%.
Best-Selling Car Models in Europe in 2014 (Q1-Q3)
The five most popular car models in the European Union from January to September 2014 according to JatoΒ were:
Rank | Car Model | Sales Q1-3/2014 | Sales Q1-3/2013 | % Change |
1 | Volkswagen Golf | 399β118 | 347β123 | 15 |
2 | Ford Fiesta | 243β813 | 222β032 | 9.8 |
3 | Renault Clio | 227β993 | 216β980 | 5.1 |
4 | Volkswagen Polo | 207β886 | 201β496 | 3.2 |
5 | Opel / Vauxhall Corsa | 194β826 | 188β612 | 3.3 |
The VW Golf increased its lead as Europeβs favorite car model during the first nine months of 2014. Golf sales thus far this year are up 15% β the only double-digit growth of the top models.
The Ford Fiesta sales were up near 10% β to some extend helped by the expanding British car market where the Fiesta is the best-selling car model.
The Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo maintained their position from a year ago despite underperforming the market. More surprising was the Opel / Vauxhall Corsa: it took fifth place from the Peugeot 208 despite being only months from being replaced by a completely new model.