Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News Mexico
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Car Cutaways
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • Sales and Retail
    • Latest Launches
    • On The Move
    • Nissan Europe boss suffers sales slide to prep for profitable future
      musk_i.jpg
      Elon Musk beats back defamation lawsuit over 'pedo guy' tweet
      Mercedes exec outlines next steps in road toward autonomous driving
      Aston Martin is not looking for new shareholders, CEO says
    • 1STRIKERS-MAIN_i.jpg
      Automakers are cutting 80,000 jobs globally as EV shift upends industry
      U.S. has not ruled out tariffs on imported cars, commerce chief says
      Germany's auto industry jobs boom comes to a halt
      Germany's VDA auto lobby will pick former utility manager Mueller as president, report says
    • Suppliers to the new Ford Focus
      adient-main_i.jpg
      Adient will reach breakeven by 2020, CEO says
      BMW badges 3 web.jpg
      BMW sues Valeo, Denso over price fixing
      Bosch logo.jpg
      Bosch will develop fuel cell batteries in China
    • Suppliers to the new Ford Focus
      Suppliers to the new Lamborghini Urus
      Suppliers to the new BMW X2
      Suppliers to the Dacia Duster
    • Tesla, Porsche, Audi and VW gain as German sales rise 10% in November
      Italy sales rise 2% in November on self registrations
      Russia will support car sales with $78M loan subsidies, reports say
      European sales rise 9% in October, driven by WLTP rebound
    • UK sales fall 1% in November
      Tesla, Porsche, Audi and VW gain as German sales rise 10% in November
      Italy sales rise 2% in November on self registrations
      McLaren looks to Asia, hybrids as it moves toward potential public offering
    • ELVA-MAIN_i.jpg
      McLaren harnesses the magic of its limited runs
      Porsche promotes Taycan's Tesla-topping recharge speed
      Kia bullish on newest member of Ceed range
      Polestar 1 sets standard for 2-year-old brand
    • VW Group shakes up design leadership
      Sato
      Chief engineer appointed to lead Lexus
      German auto lobby picks utilities expert as new head
      Redesigned Land Rovoer Discovery Sport at Guangzhou aut show.jpg
      Jaguar Land Rover names new China sales chief
  • Auto Shows
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Frankfurt Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Genesis logo web.jpg
      Hyundai's Genesis preps Geneva show appearance
      Rimac readies 1,914-hp EV hypercar for Geneva debut
      Tesla Model S gets wagon makeover
      Lamborghini Aventador replacement will be a hybrid
    • Frankfurt show's visitor plunge could mean its end
      Frankfurt's no-shows, darkened halls signal an industry in flux
      German industry faces an image crisis amid falling sales
      Frankfurt hits and misses
    • Lamborghini concept hints at move to less extreme looks
      view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux A2.0 sedan
      Vietnam's first automaker now has names for first sedan, SUV
      view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux SA2.0 SUV
    • VW will launch SOL EV brand in China with subcompact crossover
      view gallery
      9 photos
      BMW's iX3 concept heralds electric expansion
      view gallery
      5 photos
      Audi Q5L
      view gallery
      9 photos
      BMW Concept iX3
    • Pininfarina to expand China team despite market downturn
      Return of the bench seat? Concept EVs show space big enough for sofas
      Lexus plans its first EV for Europe, China push
      Chinese automaker will shun dealers in Europe, U.S. markets
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
    • volvoxc40bev-driver-side-charging-05.jpg
      How Tesla influenced a key element of Volvo’s first EV
      Alfa Romeo could be Tavares' toughest turnaround
      Formula E races to keep pace with EV technology
      Why Bosch bet big on breakeven chips
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • view gallery
      11 photos
      Renault Captur
      view gallery
      5 photos
      Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB 53
      view gallery
      10 photos
      Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe
      view gallery
      14 photos
      Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
    • view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux A2.0 sedan
      view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux SA2.0 SUV
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Seat Tarraco
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Toyota Corolla station wagon
    • view gallery
      4 photos
      Nio ET Preview
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Infiniti Qs Inspiration concept
      view gallery
      5 photos
      BMW 3-series LWB
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Mini Clubman
  • Maps
    • E-Car & Component Map of Europe
    • Powertrain Map of Europe
    • Assembly Plant Map of Europe
  • Supplements
    • Connected Car
    • Talk From The Top
    • BMW 100
    • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • Automotive News Europe Congress
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    • Meet the winners
  • E-MAGAZINE
    • Read the latest issue
    • Download the app
    • Digital Archives
    • Subscribe
  • More
    • Social Media
    • E-Magazine
    • Contact Us
    • 2019 Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
January 15, 2016 12:00 AM

VW trails rivals as Europe sales rise 16% in December

Staff and wire reports
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    New-car sales in Europe rose 16 percent to 1.16 million in December in the 28th consecutive month of growth - with Ford Motor, Renault, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen among the best performers. Sales of scandal-hit Volkswagen-brand trailed the market rebound, hitting the company's market share.

    Full-year industrywide registrations in the EU and EFTA markets rose 9.2 percent to a six-year high of 14.2 million vehicles last year, according to data released by industry association ACEA today.

    In December, Renault sales jumped by 28 percent as the core Renault brand and low-cost Dacia marque had solid gains. Ford's volume was up 24 percent while PSA's registrations increased by 21 percent.

    VW Group sales grew by just 4.4 percent last month, lagging the market, with VW brand's volume up 5.8 percent, Audi sales up 8 percent and Skoda rising 6.6. percent. Poor performances at Seat, whose sales fell 9.2 percent, and Porsche, whose volume plunged 12 percent, dragged down the 12-brand group.

    VW Group, Europe's top-selling automaker, saw its market share drop to 22.5 percent last month from 25 percent in December 2014. VW brand's share fell to 11.6 percent from 12.7 percent.

    "Volkswagen customers are so far taking a wait-and-see attitude" as the automaker works to resolve its emissions scandal, said Carlos da Silva, a Paris-based analyst at forecaster IHS Automotive.

    Among other mass-market brands, Hyundai sales grew 38 percent in December while sister marque Kia's volume was up 15 percent. Toyota and Lexus combined sales rose by 12 percent while Nissan's volume increased by 9 percent.

    JLR, Volvo joy

    Boosted by new products, Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo had sales gains of 43 percent and 34 percent respectively last month. The niche brands' growth outpaced luxury rivals BMW Group, whose volume grew by 19 percent, and Daimler, whose registrations rose by 14 percent.

    Fiat Chrysler Automobiles saw sales increase by 16 percent in December, with Fiat brand up 23 percent and Jeep sales rising 13 percent. Opel/Vauxhall's volume rose 4.6 percent during the month as the General Motors unit awaits a boost from the full market roll out of its new Astra.

    • Download PDF, above right, for December and full-year European registrations

    All the major national markets recorded increases last month, with Spain at 21 percent, Italy at 19 percent and France at 13 percent. UK sales were up 8.4 percent, while registrations in Germany rose 7.7 percent.

    The EU and EFTA region comprises the EU’s 28 countries, excluding Malta, plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

    Athough industry sales grew for a second consecutive year in 2015, ACEA remained cautious. "This result is only now passing levels registered in 2010, immediately after the economic crisis," it said in a statement. "In other words, the trend is positive but, in absolute terms, volumes remain low."

    Bloomberg and Reuters contributed to this report

    CA103396115.PDF

    Europe sales Dec, FY 2015

    CA103396115.PDF >
    Related Articles
    European sales growth will slow this year, say Daimler, Ford, Volvo CEOs
    Monthly E-Magazine
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Automotive News Europe Monthly E-Magazine

    Sign up to receive your free link to each monthly issue of Automotive News Europe as soon as it's published.

    GET THE E-MAGAZINE
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • 2019 Media Kit
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Car Cutaways
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • Sales and Retail
      • Latest Launches
      • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
      • Geneva Auto Show
      • Frankfurt Auto Show
      • Paris Auto Show
      • Beijing Auto Show
      • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Maps
      • E-Car & Component Map of Europe
      • Powertrain Map of Europe
      • Assembly Plant Map of Europe
    • Supplements
      • Connected Car
      • Talk From The Top
      • BMW 100
      • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • Automotive News Europe Congress
      • Rising Stars
        • Meet the winners
      • Eurostars
      • Leading Women
    • E-MAGAZINE
      • Read the latest issue
      • Download the app
      • Digital Archives
      • Subscribe
    • More
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • E-Magazine
      • Contact Us
      • 2019 Media Kit
      • About Us