Germany's True Fleet market performance the strongest for 2017...so far

After a roller coaster ride in the first four months (up in January and March, down in February and April) the May performance for the German True Fleet Market was strong, registering a + 16.0%. This pushed the year-to-date performance into the positive (+ 2.5%) with almost 341,000 fleet registrations from January to May helping to achieve an all-time high. For the Total Market, May ended just shy of 324,000 units, up by 12.9% over last year.

17 out of the Top-20 brands in True Fleets were able to increase their volume over May 2016. Mercedes (+ 39.7%, ranking 3rd), Seat (+ 55.3%, 9th) Nissan (+ 38.8%, 10th) and Toyota (+ 41.5%, 11th) all achieved very positive figures but Peugeot really dazzled in May. The French carmaker more than doubled its fleet registrations thus gaining four positions in the ranking (from rank number 16 to 12). This considerable increase was fuelled by four different models: 208, 3008, Partner and 2008. While 3 of these reported a solid three-digit growth rate, 1 of these actually managed a four-digit rate.

Unsurprisingly SUV was the strongest segment, now for the seventh time in a row in Germany and with May’s + 41.3% continues to grow significantly stronger than any other group of vehicles. Within the segment there were a few interesting changes. The Mercedes GLC took the crown for the first time ever and achieved an all-time high in the German fleet market both in market share and in volume. You can find “ the usual suspects” of Volkswagen’s Tiguan and Nissan’s Qashqai on rank number two and three. However the biggest surprise came from the all new Skoda Kodiaq which clinched fourth place. Having only been introduced into the market three months ago the compact SUV from Czech Republic is already imposing itself onto the leading group for this segment.

Another change in leadership can be reported in the Higher Middle Class segment. Thanks to a massive growth of + 167.0% the E Class from Mercedes Benz also scored a double header, registering its highest market share for the segment and also ranking 1st place in terms of volume. These milestones last achieved almost 7 years ago in September 2010.