Dutch Auto Market grown 7.7% in 2018 keeping the positive tone previous year, ending the year with 446.589 sales. Volkswagen is still the market leader, ahead of Renault and Opel. The Volkswagen Polo, is the best-selling model, with an astonishing +68.5%.
Economic Environment
Dutch economic in the third quarter slowed markedly on weakening domestic demand, partly due to a high base effect. Data for the fourth quarter, meanwhile, has been largely positive. In November, the manufacturing PMI continued to point to a robust expansion in the sector. Despite this, softer growth in output and employment led the headline figure to drop from the prior month, marking the weakest improvement in business conditions in over two years. Unemployment also continued to fall to near-decade lows through October.
Economic growth is expected to decelerate next year, estimating the economy to grow 2.0%, which is down 0.1 percentage points from last month’s forecast. Uncertainty over Brexit and global trade tensions remain the key downside risks to the outlook. On the other hand, a tight labor market should support private consumption and the economy is expected to be further buttressed by solid export and fixed investment growth.
Market Trend
Dutch vehicles market in recent years has reported up and down influenced by the effects of incentives for low emission vehicles, introduced and then cut, with the effect that in the 2016 sales were at 385.000, over 115.000 down from the 2012, before to recover in the following years. According to data released by the RAI Vereeniging, the Dutch Association of Car Manufacturers, in the 2018 car passenger’s sales grew up at 446.589, improving by 7.7% from the 2017.
However, during the year the almost positive first half was followed by a less positive trend in the second, influenced by WLTP introduction as well, with recent months all negative and a 2019 outlook uncertain.
| Sales 2014 | Sales 2015 | Sales 2016 | Sales 2017 | Sales 2018 | '+/- 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 388.408 | 451.625 | 385.038 | 414.548 | 446.589 | 7,7% |
Competitive Arena
On top of the competitive arena, Volkswagen was the 2018 market leader, with 50.190 cars sold, up 16.9% from the previous year.
In second place Renault with 38.447 vehicles – losing 5.6% – followed by Opel with 36.419 (+4.5%), Peugeot with 31.668 (+2.1%), Kia with 26.340 (+13.4%), Ford with 24.780 (+4.1%) and Toyota with 23.449 (-2.5%).
In eight place BMW with 20.672 (+9.8%) ahead of Skoda with 18.751 (+13.1%) and in 10th place, since October, Volvo with 16.268 (+14.1%).
At model wise, the best-selling car was the Volkswagen Polo, for the third time in its history, with 14.585 sales (+68.5%) ahead of the Renault Clio with 12.001 (+1.9%) and the Kia Picanto with 10.997 (+14.3%).
Tables with sales figures
In the tables below we report sales for all Brands and top 10 Models.
