The firm’s data show that overall figures were up 9.6% last month compared to January 2014. In all five markets the volume was higher than in the previous year.

In France and the UK the increase was rather moderate but in Germany (+ 9.4%) and especially in Spain and Italy the growth rates were really impressive with + 24.4% and + 27.5% respectively.

In the Private Market however the beginning of 2015 was challenging. In January the EU-5 Private Market was almost flat with a plus of merely 0.5%. Only Spain showed an encouraging result with + 29.9%.

Volkswagen (whose registrations grew by an above-average growth rate of 17.6%) was market leader in the EU-5 True Fleet Market followed by Ford and Audi. Mercedes was able to extend its registrations by almost 25% and jumped in fourth place gaining four positions in the ranking. Opel (#6, + 20.4%) and Nissan (#9, + 33.5%) were very successful as well both climbing by one position.

Looking at Belgium / The Netherlands, Dataforce reported that January showed a mixed picture. While the True Fleet Market in Belgium remained very stable compared to last year (a minus of only 75 registrations) the Netherlands achieved a double-digit growth rate of + 11.3%. BMW, Audi and Mercedes headed the fleet market in Belgium whereas Volkswagen was number one in the Netherlands followed by Renault and BMW.

Meanwhile, the result for the four Scandinavian countries showed a huge variation. True Fleet registrations declined in Finland (- 10.3%) and Norway (- 22.3%) but Denmark was shining with an increase of True Fleet registrations by 27.6%. In Sweden the figures were growing as well (+ 2.2%).

Number one in the Scandinavian fleet market is Volkswagen (number one both in Finland and Norway) followed by Volvo (#1 in its home market Sweden) and Peugeot (leading in Denmark).