Sales of large passenger vans in Europe surge 15% in the first half of 2015 after a 5% growth in 2014, helped by sell-out pricing of the soon-to-be replaced Volkswagen T5 Transporter and Multivan, and the successful launch of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The luxury MPV from Mercedes-Benz now sells twice as much as the regular Vito Tourer, and combined sales of the models are up 33% compared to last year, when the V-Class had only just replaced the Viano. The Fiat Ducato is up 9% thanks to the new generation, while the Renault Trafic and Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro haven’t seen the full benefit of their new generations, which had started deliveries in Q2, giving the Ford Tourneo Custom the opportunity to jump in between.
With the Transporter / Multivan T6 in showrooms in Q3 and the Trafic and Vivaro gaining traction, the growth of the segment should continue for the rest of the year.
2015 first half large passenger van sales Europe
| Large passenger van segment | H1 2015 | H1 2014 | Change | |
| 1. | Volkswagen Transporter / Multivan | 29.809 | 25.534 | 17% |
| 2. | Fiat Ducato | 17.807 | 16.402 | 9% |
| 3. | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 10.918 | 1.873 | 483% |
| 4. | Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer/ Viano | 5.845 | 10.724 | -45% |
| 5. | Renault Trafic Passenger | 5.814 | 5.878 | -1% |
| 6. | Ford Tourneo Custom | 5.300 | 4.100 | 29% |
| 7. | Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro Tour | 4.888 | 4.644 | 5% |
| 8. | Ford Transit Tourneo | 3.179 | 3.131 | 2% |
| 9. | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Combi | 2.969 | 2.971 | 0% |
| 10. | Peugeot Expert Tepee | 2.608 | 2.315 | 13% |
| 11. | Hyundai H1 / Starex | 491 | 506 | -3% |
| Segment total | 89.628 | 78.078 | 15% |
Note that these statistics only include the passenger versions of these commercial vehicles, and exclude the cargo versions, which are sold in much larger numbers across Europe.
Also not that this list is not complete, as data of some models is not available.
Small passenger van segment
Small passenger vans, or ludospaces in French, are up 11% after almost flat sales in 2014. If the segment growth continues, it will grow above 200.000 sales for the first time since 2012. The segment was above that threshold every year between 2002 and 2012, peaking at close to 300.000 sales in 2009. The Volkswagen Caddy holds on to its first place, even though the new generation has already been revealed. It probably helps that it’s very hard to distinguish the new one from the old one, following VW’s evolutionary design strategy. The biggest surprise is in third place, with the Dacia Dokker growing 31% to jump onto the podium, ahead of the Renault Kangoo. The Dokker probably benefits from the roughed-up Stepway version. That leaves the Peugeot Partner in fifth place, down 9%.
Ford is making big inroads into the segment with its new models, the Tourneo Connect and the smaller Tourneo Courier, which is now ahead of its rival Fiat Qubo to claim first place among the extra small vans.
2015 first half large passenger van sales Europe
| Small passenger van segment | H1 2015 | H1 2014 | Change | |
| 1. | Volkswagen Caddy Life | 24.076 | 23.161 | 4% |
| 2. | Citroën Berlingo Multispace | 18.119 | 19.972 | -9% |
| 3. | Dacia Dokker | 12.863 | 9.846 | 31% |
| 4. | Renault Kangoo | 12.543 | 13.354 | -6% |
| 5. | Peugeot Partner Tepee / Ranch | 12.212 | 13.407 | -9% |
| 6. | Ford Tourneo Connect | 7.900 | 4.200 | 88% |
| 7. | Ford Tourneo Courier | 7.100 | 500 | 1320% |
| 8. | Fiat Qubo | 5.770 | 5.776 | 0% |
| 9. | Fiat Doblo | 4.572 | 3.489 | 31% |
| 10. | Nissan NV200 Evalia | 3.068 | 3.106 | -1% |
| 11. | Mercedes-Benz Citan Combi | 1.963 | 2.174 | -10% |
| 12. | Peugeot Bipper Tepee | 967 | 1.262 | -23% |
| 13. | Citroën Nemo Multispace | 854 | 1.395 | -39% |
| Segment total | 110.186 | 98.985 | 11% |
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.