Spain 2018. Seat is back on top

Spanish autos market grown 7.2% in the 2018 for the 6th time in a row. Seat established itself as the brand leader for the first time since 2011, winning the fight against Volkswagen and Peugeot. The Seat Leon was the best-selling model while Jeep doubled volume.

Economic Environment

Spanish economy seems to have maintained momentum in the fourth quarter, following the third quarter’s robust showing which was fueled by a pick-up in consumer spending. A strong rebound in retail sales and a notable acceleration in tourist arrivals in October, coupled with solid readings for the services PMI in October-November, indicate healthy private consumption.

Growth is set to decelerate this year due to a slowdown in domestic demand, although it should remain healthy nonetheless. Growth in fixed investment is seen moderating on tightening financing conditions and a softening recovery in the housing market. Meanwhile, slowing employment gains due to lower tourist flows, combined with a minimum wage hike and a possible tightening of the labor code, could weigh on private spending. A sizable fiscal deficit together with a burdensome public debt also threaten the outlook.

Market Trend

Spanish vehicles market is recovering year-after-year since the tremendous fall reported after the 2009 crisis, when volume dropped by over the half. The government have sustained the recovery of the industry, crucial for a market that is the second major auto producer in Europe, with an incentive plan called PIVE, which sustain the scrap of old vehicles when purchasing a new one.

The program has been modulated across the years becoming a stable sustain to the domestic market and in the last six years it grew up from less than 700.000 cars in 2012 to over 1.3 million last year.

The 2018 registered an increase in sales for the 6th year in a row with the best annual score in this decade, confirming the long run of the Spanish car passenger’s market. Indeed, according to data released by the Minister of Transportation through the local association of car distributors (ANIACAM), the year ended with 1.33 million sales, up 7.2%, the third best results ever and the best since 2007.

As far as engine mix, the development of new energy engine is rapid but still at marginal level, with Electric Vehicles sales at 11.814 units in the year (+62.9%) while gasoline sales surged at 63% of the market (vs 51% in the 2017) to 840.114 units (+32.3%) and diesels sales fall 19.6% to 482.157.

Competitive Arena

The domestic brand Seat ended the year back on top of the list, first time since 2011 after a tough competition with the two main competitors, Volkswagen and Peugeot. All of them improved in double digi while the 2017 leader, Renault, stepped back by 5%.

The final ranking reports Seat in first place with 07.349 sales (+13.6%), followed by Volkswagen with 102.968 sales (+14.9%), Peugeot with 101.502 (+15.6%) and Renault with 96.092 (-5.4%).

In fifth place Opel with 80.330 sales (-7.6%) ahead of Citroen with 72.446 (+11.9%), Toyota with 71.288 (+7.5%), Ford with 69.173 (+1.3%), Kia with 67.782 (+15%) and in 10th place Hyundai with 64.531 (+16.8%).

Remarkable the Jeep success with sales at 17.228 (+102.5%) gaining 4 positions in the ranking.

At model-wise, the Seat Leon was the best-selling model for the fifth consecutive year, ending the 2018 with 35.890 sales (+1.6%) ahead of the Seat Ibiza with 31.474 (-6.9%) and the Nissan Qashqai with 31.276 (+8.8%). To see the Spanish best-selling cars ranking, you can see here.

Research, Consulting, Data & Forecast

F2M covers intensively this market with several products developed to help any investigation required. Market Researches in PDF are immediately available for download with study on the market since 2005 and with forecast up to the 2025. AutoData in EXCEL are immediately downloadable with annual sales volume, split by month, for all brands and all models distributed in the market. This year data are released year to date, but you will receive a monthly update until the year-end.  See details within the Spain Corner Store