Data released by data firm JATO shows that the VW Golf continues to be Europe’s best-selling car, despite sales falling 4.2% in June against last year.
The JATO data also confirms the weak market numbers reported earlier this month by just-auto. First half sales have been hit by Europe’s ongoing economic troubles and big falls to southern European car markets in particular.
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The decline to the French car market is put at 14.4% for the first half and that has been a particular worry for PSA and Renault.
However, the Renault Mégane continues its rise in the European car market, achieving fifth place in June, thanks to the success in the Netherlands of the 1.5dCi 110 “Energy ECO2” version, which has significant tax advantages over competitors due to its low 90g/km CO2 emissions. The Netherlands market was strongly up (+52%) in June due to changes to car emissions rules there.
Outside the top ten, new models such as the Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen up!, and new-generation products such as the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz B-Class are recording the greatest increases in sales, JATO says.
Gareth Hession, Vice President, Research at JATO said: “The performance of the Mégane demonstrates how CO2 taxation can have a major impact on the customer’s choice of car. With the EU pushing for lower CO2 emissions for 2020, this is a trend that will continue to influence the market.”
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By GlobalDataSee also:
- BELGIUM: Southern Europe drags H1 EU car market down by 6.8%
- UK: Car sales in Western Europe down 2.4% in June
