The VW Golf holds 6.6% of the Austrian market in January.
New car sales in Austria gain 12.1% year-on-year in January to 22,929 units, a very solid score given January 2025 was already up 16.5% on the year prior. The VAG Group dominates the brands charts. Volkswagen surges +49.7% to 19.3% share, its highest since January 2021 (19.9%). Skoda is up 6.5% to 11.6% vs. 7.8% in December and Audi (-3.4%) is back up 11 spots on last month to 7.4% of the market. Peugeot (+65.3%) is up to #7 vs. #12 over the Full Year 2025. No other Top 10 carmaker beats the market, with Cupra (-12.3%) and Dacia (-9.6%) hit the hardest. Further down, BYD (+34.6%) ranks #11, Tesla (+147.1%) is #13 and Citroen (+67.1%) is #15.
Over in the models charts, the VW Golf (+163.4%0 soars 11 spots on December to sign its first win since March 2025 and its highest share since May 2024 at 6.6%. The VW Polo (+188.9%) is equally dynamic at 3.2% share with the Tesla Model Y (+269.4%) also sporting a stunning YoY lift at #3. The Skoda Fabia (+18.6%) is back inside the Top 20 at #5, with the Audi Q3 (+269.1%) and Seat Leon (+96.7%) also making themselves noticed in the remainder of the Top 10. The Dacia Bigster remains the best-selling recent launch at #11.Β
The Tata Nexon is the best-selling vehicle in India for the third time in the past 4 months.
Outstanding month for wholesales in India at 452,589 units, up 12.7% year-on-year on a January 2025 result that was at the time an all-time high volume and the first time above 400,000 units. This month is the 2nd best month in history below the 466,814 of last October. Maruti Suzuki (+0.5%) is stable at 38.6% share vs. 44.2% in December. It is followed by Tata (+46.1%) reaching a record volume at 70,222 (previous best 61,134 last October). Mahindra (+25.4%) is relegated to third place above Hyundai (+9.5%) also breaking its volume record at 59,107 (previous best 57,115 in January 2024). Skoda (+38.9%), Renault (+33.6%) and Toyota (+17%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10.
Over in the models charts, the Tata Nexon (+51.8%) takes a clear lead and breaks its monthly volume record at 23,365 (previous best: 22,573 last September). This is the third time in the past four months that the Nexon is #1 in India. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire (+27.6%) also has a fantastic month but has to contend with 2nd place. At #3, the Tata Punch also beat its monthly all-time high art 19,257 (previous best: 19,158 in April 2024). Leader a year ago, the Hyundai Creta (-3.2%) falls to #4 but is up 7 spots on December. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (+25.6%) is up to #5 ahead of the Maruti Suzuki Swift (+4.2%), Vitara Brezza (+18.6%) and Baleno (-15.9%) down 7 spots on last monthβs win. The new Maruti Suzuki Victoris is up 13 ranks on last month to break into the Top 10 for the first time at #10. Another very successful launch is the Mahindra XUV7X0 above 10,000 units for its first full month in market.
The Peugeot 208 is the best-selling vehicle in Portugal in January.
16,839 new cars found a buyer in Portugal in January, a very impressive 16.1% year-on-year improvement. Peugeot (+84.7%) surges ahead to reclaim the pole position it held over the Full Year 2025, reaching a stunning 15.6% share, its highest since the 15.7% it reached in February 2022. Mercedes (+30.8%) also returns to its FY2025 level at #2. The premium manufacturer distances BMW (+25.1%) up six spots on last month to #3, Toyota (-13.1%) and a surging Citroen (+84.2%) up 9 ranks on December to #5. Dacia (-36.5%) and Renault (-13.1%) pay for a particularly high year-ago (and month-ago) result. MG (+190.9%) breaks into the Top 10 for the first time at #10.Β
Model-wise, the Peugeot 208 (+216.6%) triples its sales year-on-year to land in first place for the first time since February 2025. Peugeot manages a 1-2 with the 2008 (+110.9%) at #2. The Opel Corsa (+26.7%) Β is up 27 spots on last month to #3 ahead of the Mercedes A-Class (+82%) and Tesla Model Y (+528.8%) up to a surprising #5 in a start of quarter. The Toyota C-HR (+123%) and Citroen C3 (+55.1%) brilliantly round out the Top 10. The best-selling new launch is the Citroen C3 Aircross at #12. Notice also the MG ZS (+548.7%) up to #15 and the MG 3 (+1754.5%) up to #21.
The Suzuki Swift is the best-selling vehicle in the Netherlands in January.
The Dutch new car market retrogrades -13.1% year-on-year in January, an after-effect of artificially boosted December sales (amendment of BEV subsidies). HEVs hold 62% of the market thanks to 17,571 sales, BEVs are at 25.3% (7,165 sales), petrol at 11.8% (3,348), diesel at 0.9% (249) and LPG at less than 0.1% (14). Volkswagen (-15.4%) lodges a 4th consecutive monthly win at 8.4% share, albeit this is well below the 10.3% it held in December. Kia (-46.6%) is back up four spots on last month to #2 but craters year-on-year. It is followed by Hyundai (+6.3%) going against the grain with a positive result, BMW (-11.9%) up five ranks to #4 and Skoda (+18.4%) in excellent shape YoY but down from #2 in December. Citroen (+49.4%), Dacia (+33.2%) and Renault (+26.3%) also make themselves noticed below.
Model-wise, the ranking is now concentrated around small non BEV cars: the Suzuki Swift (+32.2%) is the new leader above the Hyundai i10 (+45.3%) and Toyota Aygo X (+16.3%). The Skoda Kodiaq (+4%) is up 34 spots on December to #4 wit the Hyundai Kona (+17%) rounding out the Top 5. Below, we find the Ford Kuga (+21.2%), Kia Sportage (+53.8%) and a freefalling VW Polo (-42%). Leaders over the Full Year 2025, the Skoda Elroq is down to #53 while the Kia EV3 (-82.1%) is down to #16 and the Tesla Model Y (-39.2%) is down to #22.
The Toyota Yaris Cross is the most popular vehicle in Hungary in January.
New passenger car sales in Hungary drop a painful -9.2% year-on-year in January to 8,287 units. The brands ranking is completely reshuffled. Toyota (+36.3%) is a distant leader with a record 17.5% share, distancing Skoda (-35.4%) in total freefall and BMW (+35.1%) brilliantly scoring its first ever Hungarian podium finish. Volkswagen (-24.3%) and most strikingly Suzuki (-55.3%) both implode and round out The Top 5. Dacia (+49.7%), Hyundai (+45.8%) and Nissan (+40.8%) also stun but itβs BYD (+97.1%) that delivers the biggest gain near the top, although it is down 6 spots on December to #13. Chinese Chery breaks into the Top 15 at #14 while Omoda and Jaecoo make their way into the Top 25.
The Toyota Yaris Cross (+253.2%) scores its first ever Polish win with an impressive 5.4% share vs. 1.9% over the Full Year 2025. The Nissan Qashqai (+85.5%) follows with a freefalling Skoda Octavia (-42.6%) closing out the podium. The Hyundai Tucson (+148%) surges to #4 while the Toyota Corolla (+20.4%) is up to #6. Leader last year, the Suzuki S-Cross (-51.9%) falls to #5 while the Suzuki Vitara (-49.7%) is down to #7. Excellent performance also by the Toyota C-HR (+44.9%) at #8 and the VW T-Roc at #9 vs. #25 over FY2025. The BMW X5 manages a stunning month at #18.
The Jaecoo 7 is the best-selling vehicle in Scotland in January.
Thanks to SMMT we can share with you detailed sales data by model for each UK nation. In an overall market up 3.4%, England gains 5.3% to 123,661 units and Wales is up 0.5% to 4,628 but Scotland drops -7.3% to 11,323 and Northern Ireland dives -11.3% to 4,296.
Podium finishers are as follows. The Kia Sportage is #1 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and #2 in Scotland, the Jaecoo 7 #1 in Scotland, #2 in England and #4 in Wales, the Ford Puma #2 in Wales, #3 in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Nissan Juke #2 in Northern Ireland and the MG HS #3 in Wales, #4 in Scotland.
Other great performers include the Hyundai Tucson #5 in Northern Ireland, the BYD Seal U #6 in England and #10 in Scotland, the Omoda 5 #7 in Scotland, the VW T-Roc #7 in Northern Ireland, the BMW 1 Series #8 in Scotland, the Audi A3 #9 in England, the Peugeot 3008 #10 in England and the Volvo XC40 #10 in Northern Ireland.
Itβs a difficult start of the year for new car sales in Czechia at -6.7% year-on-year in January to 18,043 units. Local behemoth Skoda (+1.1%) goes against the grain to reach a stratospheric 39.5% share, its highest since January 2024 (42.3%). Volkswagen (-0.5%) is stable and climbs two spots on December to #4 with 8.2% share. Toyota (-12.9%), Hyundai (-55%) and Kia (-21.9%) all crater below. Cupra (+59.8%) is inside the Top 10 for the second time in the past 5 months, with Volvo (+19%) and Ford (+3.9%) also posting notable gains.
Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (+2.5%) progresses to 9.4% share, its highest since May 2024. The Skoda Kodiaq (+16.4%) is up to #2, the nameplateβs highest ever ranking, last reached one year ago in January 2025. Skoda places seven models in the Top 7 this month (the 8th time it does so), with the Scala (+4%), Kamiq (-11.7%), Karoq (-6%), Fabia (-12%) and Superb (+14.7%) in tow. The best of the rest is the Toyota Corolla (+49.9%) ranking at #8.
The BMW X1 is the best-selling vehicle in Switzerland in January.
Itβs a shy start of the year for the Swiss new car market at -5.1% year-on-year in January to 14,207 registrations. 4Γ4 sales drop -6% to 7,124 and 50.8% share vs. 51.3% a year ago. Petrol sales sink -22.2% to 2,975 and 21.2% share vs. 25.8% last year while diesel is down -28.5% to 873 and 6.2% share vs. 8.3% in January 2025. In contrast HEVs are up 1.4% to 5,557 and 39.6% share vs. 37%, PHEVs soar 26.1% to 1,709 and 12.2% share vs. 9.2% but BEVs disappoint at +0.1% to 2,913 and 20.8% share vs. 19.7% a year ago.
Over in the brands ranking, BMW (-20.2%) snaps the lead despite a harsh year-on-year loss (the carmaker broke its share record a year ago). This is the first time since April 2025 that BMW is the best-selling brand in Switzerland. Volkswagen (-0.3%) is relegated to 2nd place 31 units below. Skoda (-5.4%) and Mercedes (-2.9%) follow with Toyota (+24.1%) excelling at #5. Below Audi (-14.4%), struggling, the rest of the Top 10 all register positive results. Volvo (+23.4%) is the most dynamic ahead of Kia (+9.9%), Dacia (+3.4%) and Renault (+0.4%). Further down, Citroen (+33.3%) stands out at #15 vs. #24 in December.
Model-wise, after the BMW X3 signed its first win a year ago, itβs now the turn of the BMW X1 (+17.7%) to do the same thing, even though it only holds 1.9% share as Switzerland is the most fragmented market in the world. The Skoda Kodiaq (-10.8%) is up 11 spots on December to #2 despite falling hard. The Toyota Yaris (+36.6%) is up 21 to #3, the BMW X3 (-27.2%) up 30 to #4 and the Renault Clio (+229.3%) up 78 to #5. Leader over the Full Year 2025, the VW Tiguan (-20.1%) is down to #6 for the month. Notice also the new Skoda Elroq ranking #10.
The BYD Atto 2 ranks #10 and helps the brand to a new share record
The Turkish new light vehicle market is up a solid 9.8% year-on-year in January to 75,362, however this is not a new January record as January 2024 was above (79,701). Renault (+9.8%) exactly matches the market and confirms it is the new favourite of Turkish customers at 12.3% share vs. 10.5% over the Full Year 2025. Toyota (+65.2%) soars to #2 with 11.5% share vs. 6.8% over FY2025, followed by Volkswagen (+23.4%) and Fiat (+1.9%), disappointing at #4. Ford (-13.6%) clearly underperforms and falls three spots on December to #5. BYD (+40.2%) is back up 7 ranks on last month to reach a new record ranking at #7, eclipsing its previous best of #8 reached last June. KGM (+180.8%), Jaecoo (+124.2%) and Chery (+122.1%) also shine below.
Over in the models charts, the Renault Clio (+54.9%) confirms it is the new favourite of Turkish customers with a splendid 7.5% share vs. just 4.8% over the Full Year 2025 when it also ranked #1. The Toyota Corolla (+67.4%) is also very dynamic at #2, as are the Toyota C-HR (+113.5%) and most impressively the VW Tiguan (+206.4%) tripling its sales year-on-year and up 36 spots on its FY 2025 ranking to #4. Notice also the Nissan Qashqai (+92.7%) and Chery Tiggo 8 (+1666.7%) both landing inside the Top 10. A newcomer, the BYD Atto 2 (aka Yuan Up), delivers a spectacular performance, landing at #10 and helping BYD to its record ranking.
The major upgrade is in the powertrain system, with the BEV AWD has a combined system power output of up to 850 kW (1,140 hp) with three electric motors.
The Jaecoo 7 is only outsold by the Kia Sportage in January.
The UK new car market is up 3.4% year-on-year in January to 144,127 units, this is the highest January volume in six years: since pre-pandemic January 2020. Encouragingly, private sales beat the market at +4.5% to 52,397, but remain at a low 36.4% share vs. 36% a year ago. Fleet sales edge up 1.6% to 88,269 and 61.2% share vs. 62.3% in January 2025. Meanwhile business sales are up 46.5% to 3,461. BEV registrations disappoint at +0.1% to 29,654 and 20.6% share vs. 21.3% last year, the lowest since March 2025. HEVs are up 4.8% to 19,297 and 13.4% vs. 13.2%, PHEVs surge 47.3% to 18,557 and 12.9% share vs. 9% but petrol is off -1.9% to 68,757 and 47.7% share vs. 50.3% and diesel down -8.8% to 7,862 and 5.5% share vs. 6.2%.
In the brands ranking, the three best-sellers disappoint with year-on-year drops. Volkswagen (-7.6%) remains by far the most popular carmaker in the country with 8.7% share, consistent with its FY2025 level of 8.8%. Kia (-7.7%), although down significantly, continues on its traditional strong start of years at #2, a ranking it last held in September. BMW (-12.6%) is in trouble but climbs back up to the podium. Audi (+17.1%), Ford (+13.6%, Skoda (+13.1%) and Mercedes (+6.7%) all post solid scores below, whereas Peugeot (-21.6%) and Nissan (-16.7%) struggle. Further down, Chinese fare Jaecoo (+569.9%) ascends to a record ranking (#15) and share (3.4%) and is only 200 sales below MG (-6.6%). Omoda (+211.3%), BYD (+149.1%) and Citroen (+97.5%) also impress. Tesla is down -50.8% to #33 and 0.5% share.
Looking at the models charts, the Kia Sportage (+34.5%) snaps the top spot for the 5th time in the past 13 months, another good start of the year for the crossover. The event of the month is the brilliant 2nd place of the Jaecoo 7, a new record for the nameplate reaching an all time high share at 2.8%. Its previous best was #4 last September. This the 6th consecutive month the Jaecoo 7 is inside the UK Top 10, confirming it is an instant (and surprising) blockbuster here. Leader for the past three years, the Ford Puma (+59.3%) drops to #3 but manages surging year-on-year volumes. The BYD Seal U is up to a record #6, a ranking it also held last September. Strong showing also by the VW Tiguan (+18.8%) and Nissan Juke (+8.5%).
Yet more worries for new car sales in Finland at -5.1% year-on-year in January to just 5,374 units. Toyota (-7.4%) reclaims the brands top spot with 15.1% share vs. 11.2% in December, distancing Skoda (+9.8%) at 11.5% vs. 10% last month. Volvo (-1.3%) advances two ranks on last month to #4 whereas Volkswagen (-10.7%), leader in December, falls to #5. Tesla (+286.2%) compensates on a particularly low January 2025 result (-65.7%) and ranks inside the Top 10 at #9. Other great performers below include Seat (+500%), Smart (+295.2%), Mini (+100%), BYD (+98%) and Xpeng (+87.5%).
Over in the models charts, the Tesla Model Y (+550%) surges to pole position which is unusual for a quarter start. Selling exactly the same amount is the Toyota Yaris Cross (+14.5%), leader over the Full Year 2025. At #3, the Toyota bZ4X (+101.1%) posts a fantastic result and climbs onto the Finnish podium for the first time β and in the Top 10 for the first time also. The Nissan Qashqai (-35.1%) was #1 a year ago and pays it this month. Another excellent month for the Skoda Elroq (+1176.9%) celebrating one year in market with a 5th position. The good surprise of the month is the 9th place of the Mercedes CLA (+633.3%), inside the Top 10 for the 2nd month in a row after ranking #10 in December β making Finland the only market in the world where the CLA is in the Top 10. For its part the new Smart #5 continues to shine at #20 even though this is significantly below the #7 it reached last month. Finland remains the only market in the world where the #5 is met with success.
The Dolphin Mini is the #1 BEV in Brazil and helps BYD to a record 6% share.
162,779 new light vehicles found a buyer in Brazil in January, a small 2.1% year-on-year improvement. Fiat (-0.3%) remains solid at 21% share vs. 20.9% over the Full Year 2025, distancing a surging Volkswagen (+21.6%). In contrast, Chevrolet (-17.8%) suffers but stays #3. In fact the entire Top 5 is unchanged on December, with Hyundai (+3.2%) at #4 and BYD (+48.8%) repeating at a record 5th place and reaching an all time high 6% market share. The rest of the Top 10 all underperform with year-on-year losses, with Nissan (-30.2%) and Toyota (-17.5%) hit the hardest and Honda (-9.1%), Renault (-5.2%) and Jeep (-3.7%) posting more modest falls. Below, GWM (+70.5%) hits a record ranking (#11) and share (2.7%), while newcomers Geely repeats at an all time high #18 and Omoda breaks into the Top 20 for the first time at #19.
Model-wise, like last year the Fiat Strada (+20.1%) starts 2026 all guns blazing with 6.5% of the market vs. 3.5% for the #2, the VW T-Cross (+8.1%). The VW Polo (-1.8%) is back up one spot on last month to #3 ahead of the Fiat Argo (+0.1%) also up one to #4 and the sensation of recent months the new VW Tera, lodging a 4th consecutive month inside the Brazilian Top 5 at #5. The Toyota Hilux (+10.4%) soars 10 spots on December to #10 and 2.5% share vs. #19 and 1.9% over the Full Year 2025. The BYD Dolphin Mini (+64.6%) cracks the Top 20 for the first time at #20 and tops all BEVs. Finally the GWM Haval H6 is up six ranks to an all-time high #22.