Sales of passenger vans have increased in the third quarter of 2014, for both segments. The large passenger van segment is now up 5% on 2013, while the compact passenger van segment has returned into positive territory, improving 2% on last year.
The large passenger van segment is benefiting from a flood of new generations and model updates, but despite being one of the oldest models in the segment, the Volkswagen Transporter/Multivan T5 still manages to improve its sales, albeit slightly. It still holds over 33% share of the segment, more than 10% over its nearest competitor, the Fiat Ducato. I expect the Ducato to improve even further next year, as the model has just been updated.
The Mercedes-Benz Vito/Viano is down because the new generation Viano is now named the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, and is counted separately. The Vito will be renewed in the last quarter as well. Combined sales of the Vito and V-Class are up on Vito/Viano sales of last year, the V-Class has already moved into 6th position year-to-date after managing to reach 2nd place in September and is likely to overtake both the Renault Trafic and Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro by the end of the year. The latter two have also just been renewed and should be able to improve their sales again in 2015.
Finally, with the new generation Ford Transit Tourneo available now as well, Ford should be able to capitalize on the success it already had with the Tourneo Custom.
| LARGE PASSENGER VANS | 2014 Jan-Sep | 2013 Jan-Sep | Change | |
| 1. | Volkswagen Transporter/Multivan | 36.468 | 36.009 | 1% |
| 2. | Fiat Ducato | 21.231 | 18.946 | 12% |
| 3. | Mercedes-Benz Vito/Viano Combi | 13.718 | 15.984 | -14% |
| 4. | Renault Trafic Passenger | 7.717 | 7.163 | 8% |
| 5. | Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro Tour | 6.456 | 5.521 | 17% |
| 6. | Mercedes-Benz V-Class | 5.643 | 0 | new |
| 7. | Ford Tourneo Custom | 6.000 | 3.800 | 58% |
| 8. | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Combi | 4.705 | 3.896 | 21% |
| 9. | Ford Transit Tourneo | 4.156 | 9.650 | -57% |
| 10. | Peugeot Expert Tepee | 3.318 | 3.045 | 9% |
| 11. | Hyundai H1/Starex | 756 | 963 | -21% |
| Segment total | 110.168 | 104.977 | 5% |
Volkswagen also dominates the compact passenger van segment, although the Caddy loses both volume and market share, despite almost all models losing volume with the exception of a few newcomers and the two Renault-Group vans.
The Dacia Dokker moved into third place in August and fourth place for the quarter to slowly creep up to its cousin the Renault Kangoo. With an advantage of just under 1.200 units in the third quarter, I don’t expect the Dokker to overcome its almost 1.400 unit year-to-date deficit by the end of the year. The Kangoo’s clone Mercedes-Benz Citan seems to be stuck in 10th place, despite outselling the Nissan NV200 Evalia in September.
Ford now has two models in the segment, with the Tourneo Courier competing against the Fiat Qubo, Citroën Nemo and Peugeot Bipper while the Tourneo Connect goes head-to-head with the other, larger, players in the segment.
| SMALL PASSENGER VANS | 2014 Jan-Sep | 2013 Jan-Sep | Change | |
| 1. | Volkswagen Caddy Life | 34.327 | 35.653 | -4% |
| 2. | Citroën Berlingo Multispace | 28.119 | 29.597 | -5% |
| 3. | Peugeot Partner Tepee/Ranch | 18.641 | 20.285 | -8% |
| 4. | Renault Kangoo | 17.400 | 16.188 | 7% |
| 5. | Dacia Dokker | 15.046 | 14.704 | 2% |
| 6. | Fiat Qubo | 8.002 | 10.173 | -21% |
| 7. | Ford Tourneo Connect | 7.400 | 0 | new |
| 8. | Fiat Doblo | 5.179 | 5.726 | -10% |
| 9. | Nissan NV200 Evalia | 4.201 | 4.382 | -4% |
| 10. | Mercedes-Benz Citan Combi | 3.163 | 1.925 | 64% |
| 11. | Citroën Nemo Multispace | 1.904 | 2.339 | -19% |
| 12. | Peugeot Bipper Tepee | 1.717 | 2.489 | -31% |
| 13. | Ford Tourneo Courier | 1200 | 0 | new |
| Segment total | 143.382 | 140.972 | 2% |
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