Small B-segment cars remained the most popular with European buyers, taking 27.0% of the market in the third quarter of 2007, though volume has dropped 0.5% year to date (YTD).
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According to UK-based Jato Dynamics, volume in Europe’s big five markets – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – was just 0.9% higher over the same period last year and down by an identical 0.9% YtD.
“With Europe’s big five markets down by 0.9% YtD, it would be easy to assume that the market is relatively stagnant,” said Jato spokesman Nasir Shah. “In fact, the market is subject to considerable change thanks to political and legislative changes, economic considerations and the effect of new model introductions. [Germany], for example, is still adjusting to the taxation changes introduced at the beginning of the year.”
B-segment
The B-segment took the largest share by a considerable margin and its 0.5% fall YTD is less than the total market has experienced over the same period. Recent months, however, have seen a decline with third quarter volumes 3.0% lower year on year.
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By GlobalDataThe Ford Fiesta was the Q3 segment leader n the ‘big five’ markets (up 2.0%) and increased sales 3.9% YTD.
“This is an impressive result for the Fiesta considering the fashion conscious nature of the segment,” noted Shah. “Ford is already courting publicity for the Fiesta’s replacement by showing the Verve concept at the recent Frankfurt show, but some long established models perform well throughout their life cycle.”
The Fiesta’s lead was closely challenged in Q3 by the General Motors Europe Opel/Vauxhall Corsa (redesigned about 18 months ago), which was up 50.3% in the third quarter and 48.8% YTD, following the well-received update. The Corsa was followed by the also-recently-new Peugeot 207 (up 14.2% in Q3), the Renault Clio and the Fiat Punto.
YTD, the top sellers were the Fiat Punto, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 207 – demonstrating, Jato said, just how closely-fought the top of this market segment is, with the top five sellers each having between 9.8% and 10.6% of the segment share.
Other models worthy of note were the redesigned Mini, which has posted a 44.6% increase in the third quarter (26.3% YtD), the Hungary-built Suzuki Swift (up 31.2% Q3, 30.9% YtD), the just-redesigned Mazda 2 (the new model up 25.7% in Q3) and the Daihatsu Sirion (up 24.6% Q3, 21.9% YTD, a recently ‘facelifted’ model).
Jato Dynamics said the slight decline of the B-segment could be attributed mainly to the increase in A-segment sales, caused by the introduction of some key new models that include the recently-launched redesigned Renault Twingo (Q3 sales up 158% YTD and only now available in right-hand drive), the Fiat 500 and the Smart Fortwo (up 94.6% in Q3).
“It’s interesting to note that the B-segment decline is at its smallest in the UK, where some of the key new A-segment cars such as the Fiat 500 are yet to launch,” noted Shah.
A-segment
Apart from the good market performance of some of the new models, many established A-segment models have suffered in the markets, with the exception of Italy, where government-sponsored scrapping incentives have benefited many. The Fiat Panda remained the top selling car in the segment.
C-segment
The lower-medium (C1 segment) recorded a slight increase in sales in the third quarter (up 1.9%), partly due to new key model introductions such as the Peugeot 308, Fiat Bravo, Kia Ceed, Hyundai I30 and Toyota Auris. The segment-leading Volkswagen Golf was up 4.9% in the period, despite its last redesign being several years ago.
The premium lower medium (C2 segment) increased registrations by 22.1% year on year in the third quarter, due largely to the arrival of the Nissan Qashqai, Volvo C30 and revised BMW 1-series.
MPVs
The medium-MPV segment (what US readers might regard as small minivans; Australians small people-movers) posted the greatest percentage growth, with a significant 59.8% rise in the third quarter and 49.8% YTD. The launches of the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso and Dacia’s Logan MCV were significant contributors to the growth.
SUVs
Despite the escalating CO2 debate, SUVs (aka ‘4x4s’; ‘four-wheel drives’) remained popular in the major European markets, with the small SUV segment increasing 7.1% in the third quarter. The Suzuki SX4, its Fiat Sedici clone (both made by Magyar Suzuki in Hungary) and new Jeep Wrangler all posted increased sales and Suzuki just added an additional (Peugeot-sourced) diesel engine option.
The medium SUV segment was up by 12.8% in the same period, thanks to the success of the Honda CR-V, Land Rover Freelander, Chevrolet Captiva, Mitsubishi’s Outlander and the Opel/Vauxhall Antara – all of ‘em relatively new models.
Registrations of large SUVs increased by 19.2%, with the revised Subaru Tribeca and newly-introduced Hummer H3 (RHD models for the UK are built in South Africa) driving the increase.
Luxury SUVs posted a 10.3% increase with much of the growth coming from the full model update of the BMW X5.
Luxury cars
The biggest segment drop here in Europe was luxury cars, which fell by 16.2% in the third quarter and 15.3% YTD. Jato said this was not surprising given the segment’s sensitivity to new model introductions, and that the Lexus LS was the only significant new model in the segment in the past year.
