Car sales in February: decline continues

The hard lockdown is leaving its mark. Also on the Dutch car market. Figures released today by Bovag, RAI Vereniging and RDC confirm this once again. Much fewer new passenger cars were registered in February this year than in the same month last year.

In the second month of 2021, a total of 21,862 new passenger cars were registered. That is no less than 26.3 percent less than in the same month last year. Then 29,665 new passenger cars were registered. Although 2021 has only just started, car sales in the first two months of this year are already well behind those of last year around this time. In the first two months of 2021, a total of 56,933 new passenger cars were registered. That is no less than 23 percent less than the 73,681 new passenger cars registered in the first two months of 2020.

Naturally, the sharp fall in sales is related to the corona virus and the related measures. In February last year, we were – on paper – almost completely ‘virus-free’. The fact that the showrooms have been closed since mid-December has certainly not had a positive effect on this. The showrooms will reopen on 3 March, albeit by appointment. Bovag and RAI Association expect to register a total of around 400,000 new cars this year. It should be noted, however, that the course of the corona crisis and therefore also the effect on the car market is too unpredictable to be able to make a reliable prediction.

Ford holds the sales topper of the month of February with the Fiesta. The B-segmenter drove out of the showroom 632 times new. The Kia Picanto closely follows the Fiesta with 600 units sold. The Volvo XC40, last month in first place, has been pushed to third place. However, the XC40 remains the only non-A or B segment in the Top 5. The Toyota Aygo and Opel Corsa complete the top five with 551 and 546 registrations respectively. Kia emerges as the winner at the bottom of the line. In February 1,804 cars of the make were registered. With that, Kia Volkswagen – last month on one – stays ahead. Volkswagen drops back to third place with 1,612 passenger cars registered in February. Peugeot settles in between with 1,753 cars. The top also consists of Toyota (1,545) and Ford (1,420).

Top 10: bestselling models in February 2021

Top 10 car brands sold in February 2021