In a year in which sales in the European Union (which still included the United Kingdom) fell by around 25%, accumulating a little less than 10 million units, which were the best selling cars in Europe country by country?
From premium proposals to an unlikely low cost leadership, passing through countries where the podium is all made by electric cars, there is something that stands out in the analysis of the numbers: nationalisms.
What do we mean by this? Simple. Among the countries with their own brands, there are few that do not “offer” their market leadership to a local manufacturer.
Portugal
Let's start with our house — Portugal. A total of 145 417 cars were sold here in 2020, a drop of 35% compared to 2019 (223 799 units sold).
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As for the podium, a premium German "intruded" between two Frenchmen:
- Renault Clio (7989)
- Mercedes-Benz Class A (5978)
- Peugeot 2008 (4781)
Germany
In Europe's largest market, with 2 917 678 units sold (-19.1% compared to 2019), the sales podium is not only dominated by German brands, but also by just one brand: Volkswagen.
- Volkswagen Golf (136 324)
- Volkswagen Passat (60 904)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (60 380)
Austria
In total, 248,740 new cars were registered in 2020 (-24.5%). As one would expect, the leadership was taken by a brand from a neighboring country, however, not from the one that many expected (Germany), but from the Czech Republic.
- Skoda Octavia (7967)
- Volkswagen Golf (6971)
- Skoda Fabia (5356)
Belgium
With a drop of 21.5%, the Belgian car market saw 431 491 new cars registered in 2020. As for the podium, it is one of the most eclectic, with models from three different countries (and two continents).- Volkswagen Golf (9655)
- Renault Clio (9315)
- Hyundai Tucson (8203)
Croatia
With only 36,005 new cars registered in 2020, the Croatian market is one of the smallest, having declined by 42.8% last year. As for the podium, it has models from three different countries.
- Skoda Octavia (2403)
- Volkswagen Polo (1272)
- Renault Clio (1246)
Denmark
In total, 198 130 new cars were registered in Denmark, a drop of 12.2% compared to 2019. As for the podium, this is the only one in which the Citroën C3 and Ford Kuga are present.
- Peugeot 208 (6553)
- Citroën C3 (6141)
- Ford Kuga (5134)
The Citroën C3 achieved a unique podium in Denmark…
Spain
In 2020, 851 211 new cars were sold in Spain (-32.3%). As for the podium, there are some surprises, with SEAT managing to place only one model there and losing first place.
- Dacia Sandero (24 035)
- SEAT Leon (23 582)
- Nissan Qashqai (19818)
Finland
Finland is European, but the presence of two Toyotas on the podium does not hide the preference for Japanese models, in a market where 96 415 units were sold (-15.6%).
- Toyota Corolla (5394)
- Skoda Octavia (3896)
- Toyota Yaris (4323)
France
Big market, big numbers. Unsurprisingly, French podium on French territory in a market that fell 25.5% compared to 2019 (1 650 118 new cars were registered in 2020).
- Peugeot 208 (92 796)
- Renault Clio (84 031)
- Peugeot 2008 (66 698)
Greece
With 80 977 units sold in 2020, the Greek market shrank 29% compared to 2019. As for the podium, the Japanese stand out, occupying two of the three places.
- Toyota Yaris (4560)
- Peugeot 208 (2735)
- Nissan Qashqai (2734)
Ireland
Another leadership position for Toyota (this time with the Corolla) in a market that registered 88,324 units sold in 2020 (-24.6%).- Toyota Corolla (3755)
- Hyundai Tucson (3227)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (2977)
Italy
Were there any doubts it was an Italian podium? Absolute domination by Panda and second place for the “eternal” Lancia Ypsilon in a market where 1 381 496 new cars were sold in 2020 (-27.9%).
- Fiat Panda (110 465)
- Lancia Ypsilon (43 033)
- Fiat 500X (31 831)
Norway
High incentives for the purchase of trams, allow to see an exclusively electric podium in a market where 141 412 new cars were registered (-19.5%).
- Audi e-tron (9227)
- Tesla Model 3 (7770)
- Volkswagen ID.3 (7754)
Netherlands
In addition to the electrics having a special importance in this market, the Kia Niro gets a surprising first place. In total, 358,330 new cars were sold in 2020 in the Netherlands (-19.5%).
- Kia Niro (11,880)
- Volkswagen ID.3 (10 954)
- Hyundai Kauai (10 823)
Poland
Despite the Skoda Octavia's first place, Toyota's Japanese managed to occupy the remaining podium places in a market that fell 22.9% compared to 2019 (with 428,347 units sold in 2020).- Skoda Octavia (18 668)
- Toyota Corolla (17 508)
- Toyota Yaris (15 378)
United Kingdom
The British have always been big fans of Ford and in a year in which 1 631 064 new cars were sold (-29.4%) they “offered” Fiesta its only first place.
- Ford Fiesta (49 174)
- Vauxhall/Opel Corsa (46 439)
- Volkswagen Golf (43 109)
Czech Republic
Skoda's hat-trick in its homeland and in a market that compared to 2019 fell by 18.8% (in 2020 a total of 202 971 new cars were sold).
- Skoda Octavia (19 091)
- Skoda Fabia (15 986)
- Skoda Scala (9736)
Sweden
In Sweden, be Swedish. Another 100% nationalist podium in a country that in 2020 registered a total of 292 024 units sold (-18%).
- Volvo S60/V60 (18 566)
- Volvo XC60 (12 291)
- Volvo XC40 (10 293)
Switzerland
Yet another first place for Skoda in a market that dropped 24% in 2020 (with 236 828 units sold in 2020).
- Skoda Octavia (5892)
- Tesla Model 3 (5051)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (4965)