In this article we are going over the Top 50 models ranking up to October 2023 of the largest European car market.

The undiscussed leader remains the Volkswagen Golf, now in its eighth generation model. Reporting 64,930 sales,  a 7.8% year-on-year loss.

The Volkswagen T-roc maintains 2nd spot with 59,337 new sales (+19.6%), in front of the Volkswagen Tiguan which sold 52,887 units (+15.9%).

The Opel Corsa maintains 4th spot with 44,662 sales (+10.8%), in front of the Volkswagen Passat -up 1 spot- with 40,571 sales (+23.9%), the Tesla Model Y at 40,257 (+66.5%) and the Mercedes C Class with 38,527 new sales (+41.8%).

The Mini falls 3 spots into 8th with 37,756 sales (+14.9%), followed by the Skoda Octavia with 36,324 registrations (+24.0%) and finally the Volkswagen ID.4 -up 39 spots- with 30,657 units sold (+107.4%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In this article we are going over the Top 50 models ranking 2022 of the largest European car market.

The undiscussed leader remains the Volkswagen Golf, now in its eighth generation model. Accumulating sales at 84,282 with a year-on-year variation of -8.0%.

The Volkswagen Tiguan follows with a total of 59,136 sales (+6.5%), overtaking the Volkswagen T-roc which sold 58,942 units (+2.6%).

The Opel Corsa moves into 4th place with 50,191 sales (+1.4%), in front of the Mini -up 2 spots- with 40,142 sales (-6.5%), the Volkswagen Passat at 39,261 (-14.1%) and the Ford Kuga -up 9 spots- with 38,482 total sales (+32.2%).

In 8th place we have the BMW 3 Series with 36,261 sales (-14.1%), followed by the Tesla Model Y -up from 127th- with 35,426 (+705.1%) and finally the Audi A3-up 8 spots- with 35,052 sales (+23.0%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

The largest European car market dominator, the Volkswagen Golf remains the undiscussed leader, with its eighth generation. However, the growth of the SUV segment reduced the space for hatch versions, and the Golf market share has dropped to 3.8% with sales at 91,621.

The Volkswagen T-Roc -up 5 spots- sold 57,424 (2.4% share), followed by the Volkswagen Tiguan which sold 55,527 units (2.3% share).

The Opel Corsa reached 4th place with 49,475 sales (2% share). Behind, we find the Volkswagen Up! -up 21 spots- with 46,708 sales (1.9% share), followed by the Volkswagen Passat -down 4 spots- with 45,696 units sold (1.9% market share).

In 7th place we have the Mini -down 3 spots- with 42,938 sales (1.8% share) and the BMW 3 Series with 41,704 sales (1.7% share), followed by the Skoda Octavia falling 4 spots with 40,663 units (1.7% share) and finally the Tesla Model 3 -up 48 spots- with 35,262 units sold (1.5% share).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

The largest European car market dominator, the Volkswagen Golf is signing the 45th consecutive year on top, with its eighth generation. However, the growth of the SUV segment reduced the space for hatch versions, and the Golf market share has dropped to 5.1% with sales at 136.324 (-33.4%).

The Volkswagen Passat sold 60.904 (+2.7%) and entered the podium by jumping 3 spots, overtaking the Volkswagen Tiguan, which fell 31.2% and sold 60.380 units.

The Ford Focus climbed 3 spots, landing in 4th place with 53.378 sales (-8.4%). Behind, we find the Skoda Octavia -up 3 spots- with 53.302 sales (-3.5%), followed by the Opel Corsa (+2.9%) with 53.199 units sold.

In 7th place we have the Volkswagen T-Roc -down 1 spot- with 50.822 sales (-13.7%) and the BMW 3 Series -up 9 spots- with 47.273 sales (+9.1%), while at the end of the leaderboard there is the Volkswagen Polo -down 5 spots- with 46.174 (-24.7%) followed by the Mini -up 1 spot- with 44.152 units sold (-11.7%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

For the last 44 years the largest car market in Europe was dominated by a single model, the Volkswagen Golf. Today this glorious model is still on top while the next generation the eight has been just presented to the market. However, the growth of SUV segment reduced the space for hatch versions and the Golf market share ended in 2019 at 6.1%, down 2.8 points of share since the 2015.

The second brand was a SUV – the Volkswagen Tiguan – hitting the new record share, with 2.6%.

In third, the Mercedes C Class with a stable share near 2.0% followed by the Volkswagen Polo holding 1.8%.

In fifth place, the Volkswagen Passat with 1.8%, followed by the new entry, the Volkswagen T-Roc with 1.8% and the Ford Focus at 1.7%.

B the Skoda Octavia, the Opel Corsa and the Audi A4.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In the 2018, the car passenger’s market is moderately negative. Indeed, according to data released by the V.D.A. and the V.D.I.K.  the market fell down 0.2%, closing the year with 3.433.843 units sold. The market has been largely affected by the deadline of September 1st for introduction of WLTP emission standard, moving up and down the registrations data in single Q3 months. In fact, the positive pre-WLTP period was followed huge falls in September and October.

As far as model ranking, the story to tell starts from second place as the throne is reserved, as in the previous 42 years, for the Volkswagen Golf. Sales in the 2018 had a wide gap over all other models, as Golf was sold in 211.512 units (-7.3%).

In second place the Volkswagen Tiguan with 74.749 sales (+4.6%) followed by the Volkswagen Polo with 70.488 (+14.8%).

In fourth place the Volkswagen Passat with 70.007 (-3.3%) ahead of the Mercedes C Class with 62.784 (-6.4%), the Skoda Octavia with 58.444 (-1.2%) and the Audi A4 with 53.340 (-10.3%).

In eight place the Mercedes E Class with 51.175 units (-2.6%) followed by the Mini with 50.494 (+9.3%) and in 10th place the Ford Focus with 49.279 (+8.6%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for top 100 Models.

German vehicles market volume record was established in the 2009, but in the recent years the market has steady growth, reporting an increase from the 2.95 million cars sold in the 2013 to the 3.43 million in the 2017 (+2.7% from the previous year), with further expected growth in the current and next year.

As far as model ranking, as for the last 42 years, the best-selling model in Germany was the Volkswagen Golf despite losing, as in the rest of Europe, suffering for the decline of the hatchback segment and the growth of compact SUVs. However, the Queen of German vehicles has been sold in 222.967 units, down 4.6%.

In second place the recently renovated Volkswagen Tiguan, up 5 spots, with 71.437 sales (+11.7%) able to overtake since October two rivals,  the Volkswagen Passat, actually third with 70.176 units (-11.9%) and the Mercedes C Class, actually fourth with 67.053 sales (+1.2%).

In fifth place the Volkswagen Polo with 61.376 sales (-14.8%) followed by the Skoda Octavia with 59.147 units (+0.8%) and the Audi A4 with 56.721 (-7.8%).

In eight place the Opel Astra with 56.327 (-13.6%) followed by the Mercedes E Class, new entry in top 10, up 11 spots, with 52.542 units (+27.1%) and in 10th place by the Volkswagen Touran, the 5th Volkswagen out of top 10, with 52.182 (-0.6%)

In an almost stable ranking, the first new entrance was the Audi Q2, landed in 38th place, while the Seat Ateca ranked 52nd and the Skoda Kodiaq was 65th.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 100 models.

Germany’s economy performed robustly in the third quarter on the back of strong foreign demand; the domestic economy, however, appeared to slow slightly. Private consumption in Q3 contracted somewhat in quarter-on-quarter terms despite high levels of consumer confidence and declining unemployment. Early data for the final quarter of the year suggests that growth momentum is slowing in the final stretch of 2017. Industrial production contracted in October, and business confidence unexpectedly slipped in December, possibly linked to political uncertainty.

German vehicles market volume record was established in the 2009, but in the recent years the market has steady growth, reporting an increase from the 2.95 million cars sold in the 2013 to the 3.43 million in the 2017 (+2.7% from the previous year), with further expected growth in the current and next year.

Acccording to data released by the V.D.A. and the V.D.I.K.  at brand wise,

At brand wise, following the awful start of the year, Volkswagen and Audi have lost share, ranking first and third respectively with 634.270 sales (-3.3%) and 283.15 (-2.2%), while Mercedes is second place gained 4.8% with 326.188 sales.

In fourth place BMW with 261.565 sales (+0.0%) followed by Ford with 246.589 (+2.8%), Opel with 243.715 (+0.0%), Skoda with 194.230 (+4.3%), Renault with 135.456 units (+8.1%), Hyundai with 108.518 (+1.2%) and in 10th place Seat with 108.203 (+10.9%).

At model-wise, the top seller Volkswagen Golf has lost 4.6% in the year to date figure with 222.000 sales. In second place the Volkswagen Tiguan with 71.437 units (+11.7%) followed by the Volkswagen Passat with 70.196 units (-11.9%) and the Mercedes C Class with 67.053 sales (+1.2%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for all Brands, top 10 Manufacturers Group and top 10 Models

The German domestic new car passenger’s market kept in the 2016 the positive while moderate trend.

Th ranking of best-selling model was, as tradition, the feud of local producers with the top 27 models made by a German brand or by a local plant (as in case of Ford) or by a brand owned by a German group (like, Mini, Skoda or Seat). The first model breaking the domination is the Nissan Qashqai ranking in 28th place with 28.496 units sold.

On top of the list, again after forty-two years, the Volkswagen Golf albeit a decline of 12.9% with 235.935 sales, near one-fourth of global Golf sales and almost the triple of the second model in the market, the Volkswagen Passat sold in 80.900 units (-17.1%) and the third, the Volkswagen Polo with 72.017 (+3.1%).

In fourth place the Mercedes C Class with 66.898 sales (-1.0%) followed by the last generation of the Opel Astra, up 3 spots, with 65.163 (+16.2%), the Volkswagen Tiguan with 63.979 (+8.5%) and the new Audi A4 with 61.507 (+17.2%), up 3 spots.

In eight place the Skoda Octavia with 58.683 (+1.3%) followed by the Audi A3 with 57.176 units (-1.2%) and in 10th place by the Opel Corsa with 55.191 (+4.6%).

Ford was again out of the top 10, with Focus and Fiesta ranking respectively 14th and 19th.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 100 models.

Market Outlook

The abrupt slowdown in the German economy in Q3 was confirmed by more complete data released by the Statistics Institute in November. Continued strong private consumption growth, which benefitted from record pension increases, healthy wage growth and low inflation, was not enough to overcome the negative contribution to growth from net trade.

Exports contracted in Q3, brought down by increased uncertainty in the international trading environment. Early data for Q4 paint a mixed picture with consumer confidence and retail sales trending downwards, while business confidence and industrial production stay robust and exports improve.

The automotive, industry, the largest in the country, arrived at the end of a new almost positive year, with both production, export and domestic sales up from the previous year.

According to data released by the V.D.A. (Verband der Automobilindustrie) and the V.D.I.K. (Association of International Motor Vehicles Manufacturers), the car passenger’s sales in December have been 256.533, up 3.7%, with the entire year sales at 3.351.000, up 4.1%, the third growth in series. Data are still far from the record hit in the 2009 at 3.8 million.

The light commercial vehicles sector was almost positive with sales up 8.7% at 257.000 (preliminary) with a total light vehicles figure of 3.6 million, the World’s fourth market.

Competitive Arena

Among the best selling 20 brands only two have ended the year down from 2015: Volkswagen, the leader, down 4.3% with 656.000 units and Hyundai, 9th with 107.000 sales, down 1.1%.

The best performance year on year was reported for Infiniti (+107%) hat did better than Jaguar, Lexus, Land Rover.

As far as the models ranking, the Volkswagen Golf was of course in first place selling 235.935 units (-12.9%) followed by the Volkswagen Passat with 77.000 units (-20.9%) and the Volkswagen Polo with 75.000 sales (+7.4%).

Behind the Mercedes C Class with 68.000 units (+1.6%), the Opel Astra with 65.000 (+16.1%) and  the Volkswagen Tiguan with 61.000 (+3.8%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for all Brands, top 10 Manufacturers Group and top 10 Models