Dacia Sandero poised to be Europe's top-seller for second month

The Dacia Sandero is poised to be Europe's No. 1 seller for the second consecutive month.

Dacia sold 17,677 units of the small hatchback last month, a gain 41 percent on the same month last year.

The only vehicle standing in the Sandero's way for the top slot for February is the Tesla Model Y, according to preliminary figures from market researcher Dataforce.

Tesla sold 17,437 units of the premium midsize SUV last month, a gain of nearly 160 percent, leaving it just 240 units behind the Sandero, according to data representing about 94 percent of sales in the European Union plus ETFA countries and the U.K.

The Volkswagen T-Roc is in position to hold down the No. 3 slot in February with a volume of 15,229, a gain of 68 percent on the same month last year. But the small SUV is just 198 units ahead of the Peugeot 208, according to the preliminary figures.

The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa rounded out the top five last month with sales of 14,603 units, a rise of 28 percent, giving is a safe lead over the Toyota Yaris Cross.

VW is on pace to finish the month with three models in the top 10 with the Golf compact hatchback (No. 8) and the Tiguan compact SUV (No. 9) joining the T-Roc.

Dacia will have two models in the top 10 with the Duster small SUV (No. 7) joining the Sandero.

In February, nine of the models in the top 10 recorded sales increases, according to Dataforce's preliminary figures. The only exception was the Golf, which was down 10 percent.

The other cars in the top 50 with big gains in February were the Peugeot 308 (+102 percent); Ford Focus (+51 percent); and the VW ID3 and Taigo (134 percent and 99 percent, respectively).

The Peugeot 208, Europe's top-selling car in 2022, climbed up from seventh place to No. 4 in February. It had the same ranking based on two-month sales.

Europe's leader after two months was the Sandero (38,206) followed by the T-Roc (32,670) and Toyota Yaris Cross (28,183).