VW Golf retains top sales spot in Europe; Ford Fiesta climbs to No. 2

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY 185]

VW Golf retains top sales spot in Europe; Ford Fiesta climbs to No. 2

Automotive News Europe -- January 17, 2010 21:00 CET

TURIN -- The Volkswagen Golf finished 2009 as Europe's best-selling model, retaining the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row.

Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta passed the Peugeot 207 and Renault Clio, -- its main rivals in the subcompact class -- to finish the year in second place. (See table, below)

The Fiesta is the newest of the strong-selling subcompacts, having debuted in 2008. All three cars benefited from car scrapping subsidies offered in the major European markets. The thousands of euros in government-sponsored incentives turned used-car buyers into new-car buyers as they traded-in their old cars for newer, more fuel-efficient models such as the Fiesta and Clio.

Sales of the sixth-generation Golf, which debuted in 2008, increased 23.9 percent to 571,838 units in 2009, according to UK-based market researchers JATO Consult.

Sales of the Fiesta rose 44 percent to 472,091 units last year, according to sales data from all of Europe plus Turkey.

The 207, Clio and VW Polo rounded out Europe's top five.

Like Ford, Fiat and Opel/Vauxhall also had two cars in the top 10.

The Golf has been Europe's top-selling car five times since 2000. (See table, below)

The Ford Fiesta was a big winner in 2009.

EUROPE'S 10 BEST-SELLING CARS 2009 (% CHG VS. 2008)

1. VW GOLF 571,838 +23.9%

2. FORD FIESTA 472,091 +44.0%

3. PEUGEOT 207 367,160 -9.7%

4. RENAULT CLIO 312,925 -6.8%

5. VW POLO 282,780 +2.4%

6. OPEL/VAUXHALL CORSA 351,807 -2.5%

7. FORD FOCUS 309,134 -15.1%

8. FIAT PANDA 298,914 +33.8%

9. FIAT PUNTO 323,536 +15.9%

10. OPEL/VAUXHALL ASTRA 275,638 -14.1%

Source: JATO Consult

The Peugeot 207 was one of the best sellers in Europe during the past decade.

EUROPE'S TOP-SELLING CAR (2000 TO 2009)

2009 Volkswagen Golf

2008 Volkswagen Golf

2007 Peugeot 207

2006 Opel/Vauxhall Astra

2005 Opel/Vauxhall Astra

2004 Volkswagen Golf

2003 Peugeot 206

2002 Peugeot 206

2001 Volkswagen Golf

2000 Volkswagen Golf

Source: JATO Consult

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Edited January 18, 2010 by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY