Volkswagen remained Europe’s best selling brand in March but Ford’s Focus took the lead as Europe’s best selling car in a market down 1% in the first quarter, according to analysts Jato Dynamics.
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Jato said European new car sales fell 1.6% (28,987 units) year on year in March. The first quarter of 2007 also saw a fall of 1% (42,129 units) to 4,144,099 units.
The British market dominated sales last month, due to the bi-annual registration plate change, with 449,287 new car sales – an increase of 13,440 on the same month the previous year and a rise of 375,701 units on the month before (February). The Focus remained the UK’s best selling car.
However, though sales boomed in the UK, the fall in Germany continues to put pressure on the European market. The revised taxation scheme introduced at the start of 2007 contributed to the 1% drop (42,129 units) in sales across Europe this quarter.
Across eastern Europe, the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia continued to record significant growth in their new car markets, both throughout March and Q1. Norway has also enjoyed a 37% year-to-date increase, also following changes to its taxation system.
Volkswagen remains in pole position as Europe’s best selling brand, ahead of Ford which saw a 2.4% increase in March and 1.9% year-to-date, largely thanks to the S-Max and Galaxy. Opel/Vauxhall fell to third position during March, up 0.9% with sales of the new Corsa. However, the company took second place, ahead of Ford, for Q1.
As well as being the UK’s best selling new car, the Focus was also Europe’s top model throughout March with 51,789 units sold, ahead of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra with 51,557 units and Ford Fiesta with 50,657 – up 3.3% on the same month last year.
