German Vehicle Market 2015 at 3.25 million units, up one spot in the global ranking. December reported up 8% fueled by strong demand on BMW, Ford, Renault and Hyundai. The Golf ended as leader for the 40th year in a series.
Economic Outlook
The economy was boosted in Q3 by private and, to a lesser extent, public consumption, while sluggish exports and shrinking investment were a drag on growth. Similar dynamics are expected in Q4 and will likely continue in 2016. A strong labor market—unemployment was at record-lows in October and November—and expansionary monetary policy are supporting private consumption.
Consumer sentiment was resilient in Q4, despite a slight moderation. Public spending will likely also lift growth, partly due to increased spending related to heightened immigration. However, the external sector will provide little growth impulse as demand from emerging economies is slowing, as suggested by October’s sluggish exports.
On a positive note, industrial production recovered in October and both business confidence and the composite PMI were fairly strong throughout the final quarter of the year. In the political landscape, tensions within the governing coalition regarding Chancellor Angela Merkel’s handling of the refugee crisis eased in December after she promised to reduce the flow of migrants to Germany. Merkel rejected calls for a unilateral cap on the number of refugees and instead called for a common European approach.
Market Outlook
December was the seventh year-on year increase in a row, the 11th out of the 12 months of the 2015 keeping the fast pace in the larger European Auto market fueled by low price of fuel and growing economy.
According to data released by the V.D.A. (Verband der Automobilindustrie) and the V.D.I.K. (Association of International Motor Vehicles Manufacturers), in December sales were 247.355, up 7.7% while the full year 2015 sales had been 3.206.042, up 5.6%.
Adding light vehicles sales volume of 262.000 unit, the German light vehicles market ended the 2015 in World’s in 4th place, behind Japan and 40.000 units ahead of India.
Competitive Arena
In December Volkswagen registered 50.882 cars (+2.5%) ending the year with 685.669 sales (+4.4%) and 21.4% of market share.
In second place, BMW with 22.484 sales (+13.1%) fueled by fleet sales. In the year BMW ranked 4th with 248.062 units (+4.3%). THird was Mercedes with 2.456 sales (+0.9% ending the 2015 in second place with 286.883 (+5.3%).
A great year-end rush was scored by Ford, fourth with sales up 24.6%, Renault, 8th at +36.1%, Hyundai, 9th with +24.3%, Mazda, 17th with +31.2% and Mini, 19th, +26.8%.
As far as the group’s performance, in he entire 2015 the Volkswagen Groups was leader with 39.3% of market share, ahead of Mercedes Daimler with 10.1%, BMW with 9.0%, Renault-Nissan with 7.1% and Ford with 7.0%.
As far as best-selling models ranking, the Volkswagen Golf led the December ranking with 17.392 sales (-10.4%) ahead of Volkswagen Passat with 7.275 units (+30.4%), the Volkswagen Polo with 6.138 (+48.8%), the BMW Series 1 with 6.038 (+19.1%), the Opel Astra with 5.309 (+61.0%), the Volkswagen Tiguan with 5.003 (+17.5%) and the Mercedes C Class with 4.377 (-22.4%).
Volkswagen can celebrate the Golf leadership for the 4oth year.
Tables with sales figures
In the tables below we report sales for all Brands, top 10 Manufacturers Group and top 10 Models
