Volkswagen's EU share: new-car registrations in 2019

Statistic | In September 2019, the VW brand's share of new-car registrations in the European Union stood at around 9.2 percent, over two and a half points higher than the share in September 2018.

Many brands see upward trend

The Volkswagen brand was not the only marque in the VW group to see an upward trend their sales and market share: Audi sales were up 40 percent in September 2019, compared with the same month one year earlier. Other brands have increased sales but have lost some of their market share compared to September 2018. Overall, new passenger car registrations in the EU increased by 14.5 percent in September 2019, compared with the previous year. This is due to the significantly low sales in September 2018. For many large manufacturers, year-to-date sales have dropped in 2019.

Sales soar on the back of tougher regulations

There was an increase of 31 percent in new passenger car registrations in August 2018, compared with the year before. In the face of new EU emissions standards, consumers rushed to buy new vehicles before the new tests would be implemented. There was an increase of over 30 percent in new passenger car registrations in August 2018, compared with August 2017.

The new WTLP test was created in response to the diesel emissions scandal of 2015, in which the Volkswagen Group played a central role. New test conditions aim to replicate real world driving conditions to get a more accurate picture of the emissions produced on Europe’s roads. Following the test’s introduction, September sales of passenger cars fell by 23.5 percent. Passenger vehicle sales in the EU show strong seasonal trends with new cars typically being bought more often between March and June.