August car sales show mixed fortunes for automakers in Europe

August was a turbulent month for the European automotive market, with notable winners and losers among car manufacturers. Overall, vehicle sales dropped by 17%, as reported by Dataforce, but a few brands managed to defy the trend with impressive gains. Volvo’s soon-to-be-built-in Ghent EX30 continues its winning streak, while Chinese newcomer Omoda outperforms established names in its primary market of Spain.

Volvo stood out during the last summer month with a remarkable 36% increase in sales, jumping from 21st to 14th place overall in the European Union (including the EFTA countries and the UK).

This boost was primarily driven by its new fully electric compact crossover EX30, which contributed 6,377 units to the brand’s total, making it the second best-selling EV in Europe, trailing only the Tesla Model Y.

This success comes as a significant achievement, especially considering it only began deliveries in Europe in January and highlights the importance of more affordable but well-accomplished EV’s to make the energy transition a reality.

Skoda and Dacia shine

Skoda also saw success, surpassing BMW to become the third best-selling brand in Europe, with 46,785 units sold. The Fabia hatchback played a key role in this overtaking maneuver, recording a 22% increase in sales, making it the eighth best-selling small car in the region.

Dacia, known for its budget-friendly models, rose to ninth place despite a 12% drop in volume. The Sandero hatchback continued to be a star performer. Driven by private sales, it remains Europe’s best-selling small car for August, while the Duster SUV saw an 8.2% increase in registrations.

Chinese carmakers making moves

Chinese automakers are making a noticeable impact in Europe. Omoda, Chery’s newest brand, soared from 73rd to 37th place with 1,142 sales, driven largely by strong performance in Spain, where the Omoda 5 outsold established models like the Renault Captur and Toyota RAV4.

The upstart brand, looking to start local production in the ex-Nissan factory of Barcelona by the end of the year to circumnavigate import levies, outperformed Tesla in Spain. BYD also climbed the ranks, reaching 30th place with a 12% increase, thanks to strong sales of its Seal and Dolphin models.

Chinese best-selling brand MG started showing weakening signs over the punitive duties (37.6%) and yielded two places in the ranking: from 20^th to 22^nd.

Overall, only 21 automakers increased their sales in August, compared to 35 in July, highlighting the tough market conditions. Big names like Hyundai, VW, Kia, and Ford reported declines, contributing to a challenging month for the industry.

Premium brands BMW and Audi faced setbacks. BMW saw a 9.5% decline in sales, primarily due to a 16% drop in 3 Series registrations. Audi also fell, moving from fourth to sixth place, with a 17% decrease in volume, impacted by a 20% decline in A4 sales.