European car sales rise 5% in 2014

According to JATO Dynamics, annual new car sales in Europe in 2014 increased by 5.3 per cent, with monthly sales growth throughout the year compared to 2013.

December sales totalled almost one million and were five per cent higher than a year earlier, suggesting the trend remains positive.

According to JATO, the Volkswagen’s Golf consolidated its lead in the new car market, with sales up 11.1 per cent for the year. Ford’s Fiesta took second place in overall sales for the year.

Volkswagen, Ford and Opel/Vauxhall were the best-selling brands for the year.

The new car market ended 2014 at almost 13 million units.

Of the 29 markets analysed, 24 recorded volumes higher in 2014 than in 2013. Portugal and Ireland recorded the greatest percentage increases, while the greatest unit growth occurred in Great Britain and Spain.

The remaining Big 5 markets of France, Germany and Italy also recorded increased sales for the full year, although France grew only 0.3 per cent and its December volumes fell below those of a year earlier.

All of the top 10 brands recorded greater volumes in 2014 than in 2013. Volkswagen remains the dominant brand by volume, recording just over 1.6 million units for the year and 67 per cent ahead of second placed Ford, despite a small loss of market share.

Opel/Vauxhall, Peugeot and Renault complete the top five for the year.

Renault claimed second place in December, and recorded the greatest annual increase in unit sales for the year of all brands thanks to the success of its Captur small crossover and fourth generation Clio small car.

Outside the top 10, Dacia came second only to sister brand Renault for increased sales, recording 72,057 (24.6 per cent) more units sold than in 2013.

Mitsubishi increased its annual volume by 24.4 per cent, with the Space Start/Mirage, ASX and Outlander all contributing.

Jeep saw volumes increase 67.9 per cent due to new product offerings of the Cherokee and Renegade.

Tesla sales grew 121.2 per cent as the number of outlets and market acceptance of its all-electric Model S increased. Maserati recorded growth of 267.7% as the new Ghibli and latest Quattroporte models attracted new customers to the brand, helped significantly by the availability of the brand’s first diesel engine. MG’s new MG3 model widened the brand’s appeal, leading to 357.6% more sales.

Top 10 Brands for 2014

Make	2014	2013	% change Yr
VOLKSWAGEN	1,612,895	1,552,376	+3.9%
FORD	961,844	922,011	+4.3%
OPEL/VAUXHALL	885,714	824,609	+7.4%
RENAULT	875,476	802,022	+9.2%
PEUGEOT	785,235	740,755	+6.0%
AUDI	724,388	694,165	+4.4%
BMW	673,655	639,798	+5.3%
MERCEDES	658,322	622,806	+5.7%
CITROEN	609,358	602,421	+1.2%
FIAT	585,758	575,518	+1.8%

The Volkswagen Golf consolidated its lead of the market, held since 2008, and increased full-year sales by 11.1 per cent over 2013. Second place was more closely fought, with the Ford Fiesta taking the position for the full year, ahead of the Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, while the Clio and Polo placed ahead of the Fiesta in December.

Only two of the year’s top 10 models, the Ford Focus and Peugeot 208, recorded lower sales than in 2013, with the 208 slipping out of the monthly top 10 chart in December.

Meanwhile, Peugeot’s newer and larger 308 continued its climb up the chart in December, demonstrating the demand for new products and the continued strength of the Peugeot brand. The Renault Captur’s appearance in the December top 10 shows how strong the market for small crossovers has become, this being backed up by strong sales throughout the year of the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka and Peugeot 2008.

Seat’s Leon, with the addition to the latest generation of both 3dr hatchback and estate body types to the previous 5dr hatchback, has recorded sales up 57.4 per cent on 2013. Dacia’s Duster SUV increased sales by 46.1 per cent, while the brand’s Logan saloon and estate recorded an increase of 92.2 per cent.

Citroën’s C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso family of MPVs recorded sales up 36.3% on 2013 as the second generation models enjoyed their first full year in the market. Other new-generation products that recorded much stronger sales in 2014 than their predecessors did in 2013 include the Nissan Note (+94.2 per cent), Mazda3 (+89.2 per cent) and BMW X5 (+122.4 per cent).

Top 10 Models for 2014

Make & Model	2014	2013	% change Yr
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF	520,958	468,850	+11.1%
FORD FIESTA	308,999	293,398	+5.3%
RENAULT CLIO	300,924	286,453	+5.1%
VOLKSWAGEN POLO	280,378	266,484	+5.2%
OPEL/VAUXHALL CORSA	252,420	239,872	+5.2%
FORD FOCUS	222,834	224,139	-0.6%
PEUGEOT 208	215,312	237,968	-9.5%
SKODA OCTAVIA	206,362	169,075	+22.1%
NISSAN QASHQAI	204,200	201,784	+1.2%
AUDI A3/S3/RS3	200,157	167,779	+19.3%

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