European sales 2015 first half Midsized MPV segment

Bart Demandt
Car Sales EuropeEurope Midsized MPV Segment
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Midsized_MPV-segment-European-sales-2015-Renault_Scenic-Renault_KadjarSales of midsized MPVs in Europe are down 1% in the first half of 2015, after increasing by that same 1% in Q1. The ever-increasing popularity of crossovers may have something to do with that, as it does with small crossovers vs. small MPVs. However, the model that suffers the most from a sales slowdown in Q2 doesn’t have an in-house crossover competitor: the Citroën C4 Picasso. In fact, the Picasso loses its pole position of the segment to its main rival, the Renault Scenic, despite the latter being 4 years older and due to be replaced next year, as well as having gotten some in-house competition from the already successful Kadjar crossover.

Volkswagen occupies the next two spots with the still fresh Golf Sportsvan now firmly ahead of the soon-to-be replaced Touran, making VW the biggest brand in the class. The Ford C-Max and Peugeot 3008 maintain their positions above the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, which is the biggest loser of the segment at -35%.

Auto-sales-statistics-2015_H1-Europe-midsized_MPV_segment

Midsized_MPV-segment-European-sales-2015-Dacia_Lodgy_StepwayThe Toyota Verso was up 13% in Q1, but is down into negative territory for the first half, because it had just been updated a year ago and enjoyed an excellent Q2 of 2014. It’s only 2 units ahead of the Peugeot 5008, which outsold it in April and June. The Dacia Lodgy moves back ahead of the Kia Carens, most likely thanks to the Lodgy Stepway version, while the 11-year old Seat Altea manages to improve 10% on last year, most likely helped by generous discounts and perhaps a large government order in Spain, which accounts for more than half of the model’s growth and a third of its total volume.

2015 first half midsized MPV sales Europe

Midsized MPV segment H1 2015 H1 2014 Change
1. Renault (Grand) Scenic 62.469 61.411 2%
2. Citroën C4 (Grand) Picasso 60.459 66.935 -10%
3. Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan 54.711 6.409 754%
4. Volkswagen Touran 45.109 52.198 -14%
5. Ford (Grand) C-Max 43.137 50.024 -14%
6. Peugeot 3008 36.106 45.066 -20%
7. Opel/Vauxhall Zafira 29.695 45.816 -35%
8. Toyota Verso 17.167 17.598 -2%
9. Peugeot 5008 17.165 20.251 -15%
10. Dacia Lodgy 12.593 11.236 12%
11. Kia Carens 11.667 12.743 -8%
12. Seat Altea 10.590 9.653 10%
13. Mazda5 4.303 3.614 19%
14. Toyota Prius+ 3.648 3.078 19%
15. Chevrolet Orlando 31 2.712 -99%
16. Volkswagen Golf Plus 12 6.122 -100%
Segment total 408.862 414.866 -1%

Click on any model to see its annual sales from 1997-2013 and monthly sales in 2012, 2013 and 2014, or use the dropdown menu in the top right of this site. Sources: Manufacturers, ANDC, JATO Dynamics.

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Bart Demandt
Bart is a 36-year old Dutchman who's always had a thing for cars, the automotive industry and statistics. He’s combined these passions by writing about them on CarSalesBase.com. His daily driver is an Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6 which he just can't seem to say goodbye to thanks to the mesmerizing exhaust note, despite approaching 300.000km which probably makes this the most experienced GT 3.2 in the world. You can find all his articles Here.
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3 Comments

  1. I feel that these figures are being artificially distorted by the manufacturers’ decisions to combine some 5 and 7 seaters and not others. From a technical design point of view, Volkswagen could easily have named the Touran as a Grand Golf Plus (and now Grand Sportsvan) with the combined sales figures for these cars vastly exceeding those of the Citroen Picasso/Grand Picasso, and the Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic. Equally the combined figures for the related Peugeot 3008 and 5008 would be rivalling their Picasso sisters!

    It was of course even worse when the combined figures for the BMW 2 Series Convertible, Coupe, Active Tourer and Grand Active Tourer were being presented in the Midsized MPV class!

    As a UK resident, it always amuses me to see how the UK sales are so different to Europe-wide sales. Here Ford still rule the roost and regularly outsell Volkswagen, Renault, Citroen etc. This used to be seen as a distortion due to the number of cars Ford sold to businesses at greatly discounted prices. I wonder if this is still the reason?

    Chris

    Reply

    1. Hi Chris,

      you’re right, but that’s the decision of the carmakers themselves. And you’ve got to be honest: the VW Golf Sportsvan and Touran look more different from each other than the Citroën C4 Picasso and Grand Picasso do. So do the Peugeot 5008 and 3008, while the Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic and Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max are more similar again.
      Of course, the models from the same manufacturer are still technically similar despite their esthetic differences and different names, so it’s purely a marketing choice to make two separate designs and different names.
      To make matters even more confusing, the Touran isn’t even a 7-seater as standard, with the third row of seats as an option.
      By the way, Peugeot wants the next generation 3008 to become more like a crossover than an MPV, so that should fix that issue for you (-:

      The success of Ford in the UK has always surprised me too, although it probably has to do with the fact that they used to produce a lot of cars in the UK (which ended when they moved Transit production to Turkey in 2013). With Nissan now as the biggest manufacturer in the UK, you can see the locally produced Qashqai and Juke sell better in the UK than in the rest of Europe as well. Coincidentally, I had a discussion with another reader earlier this month about whether to still consider Ford (of Europe) as a German brand, or to call them American.

      Good luck at Top Gear next season!

      Reply

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