Sales of compact cars in Europe declined 9% in 2018 to just over 2.13 million units, as Europe’s second largest segment now accounts for 13.8% of the total market, down from 15.1% in 2017. That means it is under threat from both the small crossover segment (up 29% to 12.6% share of the market) and the compact crossover segment (up 17% to 11.3% of the market). That also explains the main reason for the decline of the compact car segment: customers deflecting to crossovers.
Segment leader Volkswagen Golf slightly improves its share of the segment despite an 8% loss of sales, translating to almost 37,000 lost sales which is about as much as the Mazda3 sold last year. In second place we find the Skoda Octavia for the second straight year with sales down 5%, but it still sells less than half the number of cars of its sibling. Despite being replaced at the very end of the year and thus being in run-out mode with the outgoing model, the Ford Focus manages to reclaim a podium position after spending 2 years in fourth place. That is a result of the Opel/Vauxhall Astra losing 27% of its sales in 2018 after already losing 14% in 2017. The Astra was #2 of the segment in 2016, #3 in 2017 and is now down one more spot, and only 5,000 units ahead of 5th place.
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