Sales of large MPVs in Europe continue to drop to record lows in 2021. In a market down 2%, MPV sales are down 45% on 2020, with a 69% decline in Q4 alone. With just under 28,750 deliveries, this is by far the slowest year for the class since the 1980’s and over 100,000 fewer deliveries than just 4 years ago. As a result, the share of the large MPV segment falls from 0.4% in 2020 to 0.2% in 2021.
The ranking has been quite volatile this year, with the Volkswagen Sharan topping the ranking in Q2 and Q3, but the Ford S-Max finishing the year on top, as it did from 2016 to 2018. Last year’s winner Seat Alhambra is down into third place this year, as it’s the worst performing nameplate in the class, losing almost two thirds of its sales. In Q4, the Alhambra is down 77% on last year. Its sister model VW Sharan is one of the best performers in the class, losing a third of its sales. The S-Max and sister model Ford Galaxy both outperform the segment and improve their share of the class. Ford now holds 44%, up from 40.8% in 2020 but still below Volkswagen Group’s 45.2%, down from 50.8% in 2020. The fifth and last competitor in this class is the Renault Espace, down 29% which makes it the best performer, even though it’s still in last place.
With no new or updated models planned in the near to medium term future, the class is not expected to rebound to its former glory anytime soon. SUVs and crossovers are taking over the 7-seater segment, even though they may be less convenient and less efficient.
| Large MPV segment | 2021 | 2020 | Change | 2021 share | 2020 share | 2021-Q4 | 2020-Q4 | Change | |
| 1 | Ford S-Max | 7.740 | 13.375 | -42% | 26,9% | 25,5% | 1.243 | 3.296 | -62% |
| 2 | Volkswagen Sharan | 7.637 | 11.473 | -33% | 26,6% | 21,9% | 653 | 2.036 | -68% |
| 3 | Seat Alhambra | 5.341 | 15.179 | -65% | 18,6% | 28,9% | 755 | 3.234 | -77% |
| 4 | Ford Galaxy | 4.914 | 8.018 | -39% | 17,1% | 15,3% | 507 | 2.071 | -76% |
| 5 | Renault Espace | 3.110 | 4.390 | -29% | 10,8% | 8,4% | 722 | 1.883 | -62% |
| Segment total | 28.742 | 52.439 | -45% | 3.880 | 12.520 | -69% |
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.