Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe are on track to a fourth consecutive and their largest annual decline, starting 2019 with 27% fewer deliveries than in the first quarter of 2018. Just under 128.000 midsized MPVs were sold and delivered in these three months as only three nameplates managed to improve their sales on last year. Besides the competition from crossovers, it appears some potential MPV buyers are also cross shopping with van-based MPVs like the new Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Rifter as these balance their lower refinement with a lower price and more practicality. The fact that Opel/Vauxhall is not replacing the Zafira but giving its new van that same name instead is another indication of this trend. After ceding its top spot to the Renault Scenic in 2018, the Volkswagen Touran is back on top of the ranking in 2019, even though both models are down by exactly the same percentage in Q1, at -21%. That means both also improve their share of the segment significantly, while their nearest rivals from the last few years tumble hard. The Citroën C4 Picasso (now renamed C4 Spacetourer) loses 42% of its volume as the former segment leader (2014 and 2015) is down into 5th place. And with the arrival of the brand’s first compact crossover C5 Aircross, the bleeding isn’t yet over for the C4 Picasso. In fact, production of the 5-seater version will end and only the 7-seater Grand version will continue to be sold, as the brand doesn’t yet offer a 7-seat crossover.
European sales 2018 midsized MPV segment
The midsized MPV segment in Europe has declined for the third consecutive year and 2018 shows the biggest loss yet with a loss of 20% on the previous year to over 600.000 sales, the lowest annual sales since 1999, not long after the Renault Megane Scenic jumpstarted this segment in 1997. Sales of midsized MPVs peaked in 2006 and 2007 at nearly 1,5 million sales in Europe, but are now down 60% from that level and falling quickly, with a loss of 42% just in Q4 of 2018. The segment is down one percentage point to just 3,9% of the overall European car market. Like in all MPV segments, brands are replacing their MPVs by crossovers which are more popular. Only one nameplate in the top-10 managed to improve its sales, two others saw single digit declines while the remaining seven players suffered double digit declines on 2017. In this harsh environment, the Renault Scenic takes the annual lead for the first time since the launch of its fourth generation in 2016 and improves its share of the segment thanks to a decline of “just” 15%. 2016 and 2017 leader Volkswagen Touran stabilizes its share but is down into second place, just ahead of the best seller in 2015 and 2014 Citroën C4 Picasso (now baptized C4 Spacetourer). However, as both the Scenic and the C4 Spacetourer are available in 2 versions, a normal 5-seater and a three-row Grand version, we should also combine the Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan with the Touran for an honest comparison. And then VW is still in the lead, despite a 33% loss for the Sportsvan, which is unlikely to be continued for much longer after the regular Golf is renewed later this year.
European sales 2017 midsized MPV segment
The midsized MPV segment in Europe has declined for 6 consecutive quarters and finishes 2017 with a loss of 8% on 2016 to just over 746.000 sales. This means the segment accounts for 4,8% of the total European market, down from 5,4% in 2016. Only three nameplates increase their volume this year, of which two come from the same manufacturer, although they’re technically not related: the Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic and the Dacia Lodgy. The Scenic was the segment best seller in Q2 and Q4, but that’s not enough for the model to top the chart this year as the Volkswagen Touran is ahead for the second consecutive year, although this time by just 2.138 sales. Other brands offer their two-row and three-row versions under the same name, as the Scenic, C4 Picasso, 2-Series and C-Max do, but VW splits them into two distinctive models. When combining the Touran with the (Golf) Sportsvan, the brand holds more than a quarter of the sales in this class. The Citroën C4 Picasso is knocked down into third place and is below 100.000 sales after 3 years above that level. The biggest loser in the top-5 is the BMW 2-series Active/Gran Tourer with a loss of 15% and more than a percentage point of share.
European sales 2017 Q1-Q3: midsized MPV segment
Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe are down for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q3 of 2017, with a loss of 9%. In the first 9 months of 2017, nearly 580.000 units were sold, also down 9% from a year earlier. Only three nameplates increase their volume so far this year, of which two come from the same manufacturer, although they’re technically not related: the Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic and the Dacia Lodgy. After leading the segment in Q2, the Scenic is down into 2nd place in Q3 but that’s not enough to overtake the Citroën C4 Picasso for the segment #2 spot year-to-date, let alone that it’s able to retake the segment lead from the Volkswagen Touran. The last time the inventor of the segment, now already in its fourth generation, was the best selling midsized MPV in Europe was in 2013. If the Scenic fails to top the segment for the full year, it has the first quarter to blame, when it was only in 6th place due to supply issues after a fire at one of Renault’s suppliers. Keep in mind, both the C4 Picasso and the Scenic are available in 2 sizes, like the Ford C-Max and BMW 2-Series, while the Touran is one size only but Volkswagen also offers the slightly smaller Golf Sportsvan. When combined, the Touran and Sportsvan hold a quarter of the segment volume in the first three quarters of the year. [Read more…]
European sales 2017 first half: midsized MPV segment
The midsized MPV segment in Europe slows down its decline in the second quarter of 2017, to a loss of 5%. The first half figure now stands at 416.044 sales, down 9% from a year earlier. The race for the segment lead is getting tighter, with the top-3 within 3.700 sales, while the #3 outsold both its rivals by a margin of 3.600 sales or more. Still, 7 out of the 12 remaining models show double digit declines in Q2 as MPVs are losing terrain from increased rivalry by crossovers. The Volkswagen Touran holds on to the #1 position it acquired in 2016, but the gap to the #2 Citroën C4 Picasso is only 1.500 sales. What’s more worrying for the Touran is the new generation Renault Scenic, which was the best seller in Q2 and is closing in quickly. The Scenic was only in 6th place in Q1 as it was hampered by supply issues but is now at full strength for the rest of the year, ready to reclaim the segment lead it last held in 2013. Fair enough, both the C4 Picasso and the Scenic are available in 2 sizes, while the Touran is one size only, and Volkswagen also offers the slightly smaller Golf Sportsvan. When combined, the Touran and Sportsvan hold almost a quarter of the segment volume in the first half. [Read more…]
European sales 2017-Q1 midsized MPV segment
Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe continue to decline with a loss of 13% in the first quarter of 2017, to just over 200.000 units. Only 4 nameplates improve their volume over the same period last year, of which one by less than 100 units, as consumers are showing a growing preference to crossover models that offer a similar high seating position but are more hip and trendy than MPVs, despite the obvious benefits of the latter in terms of interior space and practicality. Volkswagen increases its dominance of the segment and now controls over 25% of the segment sales with its two nameplates Touran and Golf Sportsvan, as both lose less than the segment average. The Citroën C4 Picasso also does slightly better than average but drops to second place from first in the same quarter last year, before the Touran passed it to take the full-year crown.
European sales 2016 midsized MPV segment
The midsized MPV segment in Europe continues to shrink in 2016, with sales down 3% for the full year and down an even more painful 7% in Q4. In both periods, 7 models of the top-10 lost volume and in Q4 six of those did that with double digits. The top of the ranking is completely reshuffled from 2015 as the former numbers 1, 2 and 3 are now down to 2nd, 6th and 4th place. The Volkswagen Touran took the lead of the segment for the first time ever in Q3 and held on to it for the full year. This is the first time ever that a French car does not lead the midsized MPV segment, as the Citroën C4 Picasso loses 4% and the Renault Scenic is the biggest loser of the remaining models in the segment as its new generation is about to hit showrooms. As a result, we now find an MPV from a luxury brand on the podium for the first time ever: the BMW 2-Series Active and Gran Tourer.
European sales 2016 Q1-Q3 midsized MPV segment
Sales of midsized MPVs have been very stable in recent years, without any big growth or contraction. In the first half of 2016, sales increased 1% but in Q3 the segment suddenly lost 8% of its volume and is now down 2% year-to-date. Another big shock is the crowning of a new leader of the segment, which has been dominated by the French since Renault launched the first generation (Megane) Scenic in 1996. The Scenic and Citroën C4 Picasso have alternated as segment leaders in recent years, but this quarter the new generation Volkswagen Touran has claimed the year-to-date top spot and looks set to hold on to it until the end of the year, which would be a first time ever for the nameplate. Volkswagen now dominates 4 out of 7 mainstream car and MPV segments. In third place we find yet another German: the BMW 2-Series Active/Gran Tourer, the best selling luxury MPV in Europe.
US is missing out: European 4WD hybrids
The hybrid trend may have started in Japan, but it is really US customers that were first to wholeheartedly embrace the technology, making the Toyota Prius the giant success that it is today. Ever since it became clear that the technology had the power to lure customers into the showrooms, and, more importantly, open their wallets wider than they would for conventionally-powered cards, carmakers have been trying to offer hybrid cars of their own. Some, though surprisingly few, have taken on the Prius directly (the poor Honda Insight, now Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Nero). Others, primarily Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus, have made good money of offering hybrid options on their luxury cars – a bandwagon that the German luxury brands have belatedly caught onto. Others still have tried to offer hybrid versions of mainstream cars, mostly meeting with moderate to no success (Honda, Ford, Nissan, VW). But the one niche that has not yet truly been tapped in the US, unlike in Europe, is that for smaller cars where a hybrid drivetrain can be used to give normally FWD cars a second set of driven wheels. [Read more…]
European sales 2016 first half midsized MPV segment
The midsized MPV segment in Europe has been very stable in volume for the past couple of years, alternating single digit growth and contraction, and continues that stability in the first half of 2016 with sales up just one percent. That still compares negatively to the overall market, which grew by 8,8% in the same period. Individual model sales are much less stable, with a few big winners and one big loser in the segment. The leader is unchanged for now, as the Citroën C4 Picasso actually gains share with a 5% increase, but it’s under heavy pressure from the new generation Volkswagen Touran, which is up 37% on its previous generation last year and outsold the Picasso by 150 units in Q2. If the Touran manages to grab the segment title by year-end, that would be the first time for the model, whose highest ranking so far has been a 2nd place in 2004 when the first generation was still fresh. The biggest winner in the first half is the BMW 2-Series Active/Grand Tourer, adding 56% to its volume of last year, when the 7-seater was not yet available and the Active Tourer was still in start-up mode. A third place in the segment is nonetheless an impressive performance for the premium-priced model from a brand that has had no offering in the segment before.