European sales 2019-H1 Midsized car segment

The midsized car segment in Europe continues its decline in 2019 with a 18% decrease in deliveries in the second quarter, to less than 108.000 cars. In the first half of the year, sales are down 21% as the segments now accounts for just 2,5% of the European car market as just two out of the 12 available nameplates improve their sales in the first half. The segment which sold nearly 1 million units annually as recently as 10 years ago is now down even further on what already was its lowest volume ever. Interestingly, the luxury midsized car segment is down by just 1% so far this year and is 63% larger than these mainstream models. The traditional segment leader Volkswagen Passat falls faster than the overall segment but is back above 30% share in Q2, and still holds a dominant position. Its sibling Skoda Superb is the only model in the top-4 to improve its share of the segment with sales down “just” 11% while the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia loses almost a third of its sales and the Ford Mondeo is down by 22% and was outsold in Q2 by the new Peugeot 508 with its well-received design. The 508 should become a podium contender when it reaches full availability of all versions, as deliveries of the station wagon version only just started.

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The Mazda6 is the only other model to improve its sales with a 27% increase in Q2 and an 18% increase in the first half, adding 1,9 percentage points of share of the segment thanks to its facelift. The 6 therefore distances the Renault Talisman, which was down 32,4% in Q2 and 23% in the first half, as the Francophile midsized buyers are now attracted by the newer 508. We actually welcome a newcomer to this fast-shrinking segment, as Toyota has replaced the Avensis by returning the Camry to Europe, but only as a hybrid-only model, which is likely to attract loyal Avensis-buyers in some of the Northern European countries as well as diesel defectors looking for a fuel efficient alternative. The Camry lands at #9, already outselling the soon-to-be-replaced Subaru Legacy/Outback which are down by 28%. The Kia Optima also declines by double digits, while the Hyundai i40 and Subaru Levorg are likely to be killed off without direct replacements, as also happened with the Citroën C5 and Honda Accord.

Not a lot of news in this segment for the rest of the year, as we’ll just see a new generation of the Legacy and Outback, hoping to carve out more than just a niche in Europe with the new generation, and perhaps Hyundai may decide to stay in the segment, bringing the new generation Sonata to Europe to replace the i40.

Also check out the midsized car segment in the USA, where the Asians rule and none of the European players are sold, since the North American Passat is a different model from the Euro version.

	Midsized segment	2019-H1	2018-H1	Change
1	Volkswagen Passat	65.051	92.612	-30%
2	Skoda Superb	37.142	41.811	-11%
3	Opel/Vauxhall Insignia	27.707	40.823	-32%
4	Ford Mondeo	20.715	26.717	-22%
5	Peugeot 508	18.809	7.252	159%
6	Mazda6	11.805	9.963	18%
7	Renault Talisman	9.134	11.905	-23%
8	Kia Optima	6.424	8.013	-20%
9	Toyota Camry	3.014	0	New
10	Subaru Legacy / Outback	2.819	3.906	-28%
11	Hyundai i40	2.048	6.172	-67%
12	Toyota Avensis	796	11.706	-93%
13	Subaru Levorg	494	928	-47%
	Segment total	205.961	261.967	-21%

Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2018 and monthly sales from 2012 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.