Highlights:
- Segment down 3% YTD, stable at 5% share of the European new car market.
- Mercedes-Benz takes firm control of the segment with the A-Class selling nearly double of its nearest rival in Q3, up 39% YTD and gaining 7,6 percentage points of share to take a quarter of all sales in this segment
- Combined with the B-Class and CLA, Mercedes improves its share of the segment to 41,9% (up 9,3 percentage points), compared to 32% for BMW (down 3,3 percentage points) and 17% for Audi (down 1,6 percentage points), for a German Big-3 share of 87,6% share of the segment, not even including the Mini Clubman’s 3,6% share
- BMW 1-Series the biggest loser of the top-3 due to the model changeover to the new generation
- Audi A3 relatively stable at -11% despite its age
- Mercedes-Benz CLA almost back in positive YTD thanks to the new generation
- Volvo V40 biggest loser in top-8 as model is discontinued in favor of the XC40 crossover
- Alfa Giulietta now facing the axe as well, YTD sales down by half
- BMW i3 second biggest winner of the segment at +37%
| Premium compact car segment | 2019 Q1-Q3 | 2018 Q1-Q3 | Change | Share | |
| 1 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 148.613 | 106.587 | 39% | 25,0% |
| 2 | Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 | 101.296 | 113.944 | -11% | 17,0% |
| 3 | BMW 1-series | 82.679 | 97.676 | -15% | 13,9% |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz B-Class | 56.248 | 48.145 | 17% | 9,4% |
| 5 | BMW 2-series Active/Gran Tourer | 45.992 | 55.870 | -18% | 7,7% |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz CLA | 44.342 | 45.081 | -2% | 7,4% |
| 7 | Volvo V40 | 34.288 | 44.229 | -22% | 5,8% |
| 8 | BMW i3 | 23.479 | 17.135 | 37% | 3,9% |
| 9 | Mini Clubman | 21.463 | 20.648 | 4% | 3,6% |
| 10 | BMW 2-series Coupe & Convertible | 18.916 | 25.386 | -25% | 3,2% |
| 11 | Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 12.494 | 23.393 | -47% | 2,1% |
| 12 | Lexus CT | 4.130 | 6.868 | -40% | 0,7% |
| 13 | Infiniti Q30 | 1.141 | 2.581 | -56% | 0,2% |
| 14 | DS4 | 192 | 5.507 | -97% | 0,0% |
| Segment total | 595.273 | 613.050 | -3% |
Premium small car segment
Highlights:
- Segment down 3% YTD, stable at 1,8% share of the European new car market.
- Mini firmly in control of this segment at 46,7% share, up 2,2 percentage points, selling more than double of its nearest rival in Q3
- Audi A1 falls into the red YTD after Q3, as new generation celebrates its first birthday
- Lancia Ypsilon big winner with sales up 29% YTD, helped by the end of production of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Fiat Punto
- DS3 and MiTo have ended production and won’t be replaced, leaving this segment with just 3 nameplates in 2020
| Premium small car segment | 2019 Q1-Q3 | 2018 Q1-Q3 | Change | Share | |
| 1 | Mini | 100.185 | 98.333 | 2% | 46,7% |
| 2 | Audi A1 | 62.181 | 63.240 | -2% | 29,0% |
| 3 | Lancia Ypsilon | 45.704 | 35.301 | 29% | 21,3% |
| 4 | DS3 | 5.569 | 15.800 | -65% | 2,6% |
| 5 | Alfa Romeo MiTo | 667 | 8.498 | -92% | 0,3% |
| Segment total | 214.306 | 221.172 | -3% |
Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2018 and monthly sales from 2015 to 2018, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site.
Car sales statistics are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.
Losange says
Lancia a big winner! With FCA changing its small car policy and getting help from PSA, maybe Lancia will introduce a new Ypsilon and more models in the future. Wishful thinking?
Sam says
That’s my wish too! I LOVE Lancia! Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo is a big loser with the Giulietta. I own it in Forza, and it’s the best car in the game aside from the Ferrari 250 GTO.
Bobi says
Lancia is already doomed. No new models planned. There is already a premium brand called DS to get a new premium mini and Alfa to get premium mini crossover. Lancia Y will be produced as long current gen 500 is produced. This model is offered only in Italy and Lancia will meet the same fate as Autobianchi. What is funny, Ypsilon is next gen of car inherited by Lancia from liquidated Autobianchi.
Losange says
I know about the Alfa Tonale, I did not know about a new DS mini car. Nice! Would be a smart move by DS to attract new customers through this small but stable segment.
RickM says
DS3 includes DS3 Crossback? Can’t be.
RickM says
As to the Ypsilon, solely offered in Italy to feed a group of 50.000 sugga babe donna’s who spent their splendid Insta lives buzzing handheld from ristorante to Gucci fashion store. FCA losses money on this model (the car, not the ragazza), year after year.