Volkswagen was Europe’s top-selling car brand last year in a market that grew just 0.8% though 2007 finished strongly with December 1.5% up.
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Peugeot’s 207 was the top-selling model according to UK-based analyst Jato Dynamics.
VW sold 1,607,750 units during 2007, ahead of General Motors Europe’s Opel/Vauxhall (up 0.1% at 1,323,076 units) and Ford (up 1.1% at 1,287,182 units). Renault and Peugeot were next.
Fiat, which has been fighting back with new models was rewarded with a full-year rise of 7.7% to 964,116 units, the best improvement of the top 10 brands.
Further down the charts, Honda boosted volume 11.8% and a model redesign and the new Clubman derivative helped Mini to a 26.8% gain.
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By GlobalDataRomania’s Dacia brand increased sales 85.9% in due to the strong performance of its Logan model.
The 207’s 437,505 units sold beat the Golf’s 435,055 units while the Ford Focus was third top-selling model with 406,557 units sold.
The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa (402,173 units), Opel/Vauxhall Astra (402,044 units), Renault Clio (382,041 units), Fiat Punto (377,989 units), Ford Fiesta (355,933 units, up 0.6%), Volkswagen Passat (300,566 units) and BMW 3-Series (295,312 units, up 2.0%) completed the top 10.
Jato’s individual market analysis focused on Germany where, late in 2006, there was a high number of registrations ahead of increased taxation (a VAT rise to 19%) due for introduction on 1 January.
This resulted in a German market that started 2007 in a depressed state and which continued for much of the year, leaving it down by 9.2% at the end of December. Other falling markets were Iceland (down 6.9%), Finland (-6.2%), Hungary (-4.9%), Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Belgium.
The most significant market growth was in the Baltic states, with Estonia growing 22% and Latvia 28%. Lithuania ended the year 52% up. Cyprus grew 27%.
“We think the industry should be quite satisfied with the 2007 results,” said Jato spokesman Nasir Shah.
“Many of the European economies have been under pressure and taking into account the specific factors that depressed the huge German market, we think any degree of growth in 2007 is a significant achievement.”
