The European new car market recorded a third successive quarter of growth thanks to a 9.3% year on year increase in March.
The strong start to 2014 was highlighted by Q1 sales growth of 7.2% compared to the same period in 2013, JATO Dynamics reported.
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Twenty-three of the 30 European markets analysed achieved an increase in volumes in March.
It was another strong month for the Volkswagen Golf. Growth of 14.1% in March ensured that it remained the top selling model in Europe and helped Volkswagen to maintain its position as top manufacturer.
Dacia has enjoyed a good start to 2014 with Q1 growth of 42% year-on-year
Of the 30 markets studied, 24 posted year on year increases during Q1 2014 and 23 of those recorded positive growth during March 2014. Great Britain benefited from the usual March volume peak, the second best since the current year identifier number plate system was introduced in 2001.
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By GlobalDataYear on year sales for March in the UK were up 17.7% and Q1 growth was also in the double digits at 13.7%. The four other largest European markets – France, Germany, Italy and Spain – also recorded increases for both the month and the quarter.
A number of small and medium markets posted impressive increases of between 20% and 30% for March. Among them were Croatia (+28.7%), Greece (+30.7%), Hungary (+22.1%), Ireland (+23.2%) and Sweden (+22.7%).
A notable exception was the Netherlands, down 17.6% for the month compared to March 2013 and down 7.0% for Q1 year on year. However, this drop is likely to have been caused by a tax change that came into effect at the start of the year, causing sales to be brought forward to Q4 2013, rather than an underlying lack of demand.
Volkswagen remains the top European brand after sales grew by 4.7% in March. However, second-placed Ford (+12.6%) and third-placed Opel/Vauxhall (+13.9%) both closed the gap thanks to double digit growth during the month. It was a particularly good first quarter for Ford and for Renault, both posting year on year growth of 10.8% compared to Q1 2013. All the top 10 brands recorded growth both for March and for Q1 2014.
Outside the top 10, Dacia’s Q1 improvement was one of the most eye catching, with year on year growth of 42% compared to the first three months of 2013.
Growth was driven by strong demand for its Sandero and Logan models. Mazda, Nissan, Seat, Skoda, Suzuki, Toyota and Volvo have all performed well in 2014 so far.
Top 10 Brands
|
Make |
Mar_14 |
Mar_13 |
% change Mar |
Mar YtD_14 |
Mar YtD_13 |
% change YtD |
|
VOLKSWAGEN |
164,304 |
156,981 |
+4.7% |
392,857 |
378,729 |
+3.7% |
|
FORD |
126,101 |
111,994 |
+12.6% |
253,167 |
228,545 |
+10.8% |
|
OPEL/VAUXHALL |
113,303 |
99,502 |
+13.9% |
225,300 |
208,831 |
+7.9% |
|
RENAULT |
95,206 |
78,283 |
+21.6% |
215,140 |
194,224 |
+10.8% |
|
PEUGEOT |
85,918 |
76,980 |
+11.6% |
207,681 |
189,879 |
+9.4% |
|
AUDI |
82,090 |
76,466 |
+7.4% |
184,733 |
170,168 |
+8.6% |
|
BMW |
77,666 |
70,849 |
+9.6% |
168,681 |
158,766 |
+6.2% |
|
MERCEDES |
71,489 |
66,986 |
+6.7% |
157,645 |
151,721 |
+3.9% |
|
NISSAN |
66,163 |
57,570 |
+14.9% |
130,057 |
121,945 |
+6.7% |
|
CITROEN |
66,067 |
61,499 |
+7.4% |
162,970 |
156,569 |
+4.1% |
Top 10 Models
|
Make & Model |
Mar_14 |
Mar_13 |
% change Mar |
Mar YtD_14 |
Mar YtD_13 |
% change YtD |
|
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF |
56,042 |
49,114 |
+14.1% |
129,599 |
112,423 |
+15.3% |
|
FORD FIESTA |
44,491 |
41,638 |
+6.9% |
85,639 |
77,763 |
+10.1% |
|
OPEL/VAUXHALL CORSA |
33,563 |
33,582 |
-0.1% |
64,591 |
63,554 |
+1.6% |
|
RENAULT CLIO |
32,434 |
31,537 |
+2.8% |
74,473 |
75,349 |
-1.2% |
|
FORD FOCUS |
30,743 |
28,953 |
+6.2% |
61,170 |
61,264 |
-0.2% |
|
VOLKSWAGEN POLO |
30,716 |
28,450 |
+8.0% |
73,576 |
68,887 |
+6.8% |
|
NISSAN QASHQAI |
27,843 |
29,155 |
-4.5% |
53,773 |
61,886 |
-13.1% |
|
PEUGEOT 208 |
26,211 |
28,189 |
-7.0% |
62,275 |
66,948 |
-7.0% |
|
OPEL/VAUXHALL ASTRA |
24,016 |
22,238 |
+8.0% |
46,224 |
51,521 |
-10.3% |
|
FIAT 500 |
21,990 |
17,857 |
+23.1% |
46,572 |
38,967 |
+19.5% |
