European car sales continue to contract in February 2013

March 19, 2013: As per the latest new car sales analysis from JATO Dynamics, the leading provider of automotive intelligence, the Volkswagen Golf continues to be Europe’s best-selling car, despite a fall of 0.3 percent in February sales, and a 9.1 percent fall in year-to-date sales, compared to 2012. Four B-segment cars, the Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo, Peugeot 208 and Ford Fiesta, complete the Top Five.

JATO’s key analysis of the market:

* The European new car market continues to contract, with sales 10.3% less in February and 9.5% less year-to-date than a year earlier

* Great Britain is the only ‘Big Five’ market to have experienced growth in 2013 with sales increasing 7.9% in February (versus 2012) and 10.3% year-to-date

* B-Segment models take five out of the Top 10 places

* None of the Top 10 brands recorded increased sales in February

* BMW is the only brand to have achieved a year-to-date increase in sales (4.7%)

Out of the ‘Big Five’ European markets, only Great Britain saw any growth in February. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of private sales and additionally new top selling models such as the facelifted Ford Fiesta are now in full flow of availability.

Sales by market

BMW is the only brand in the Top 10 to have recorded an increase in year-to-date sales (4.7% higher than the same period in 2012). None of the Top 10 brands recorded increased year-on-year sales for the month of February.

Outside the Top 10 the story is similar to January, with Dacia and Mazda being the brands achieving the greatest increases in sales. Honda has seen some success, thanks to the new CR-V model and strong British sales of the Civic, and Jaguar also recorded increased sales in February.

Commenting on the findings, Gareth Hession, vice-president, research, at JATO, said: “The European new car market remains a tough place to do business. The market in Great Britain remains strong, but the rest of the ‘Big Five’ markets are depressed and show no signs of improvement.”