Volvo no longer best-selling car in Sweden as VW Golf overtakes

Volkswagen has accelerated past Volvo to become the best-selling car brand in Sweden for the first time in more than 50 years.

The country's industry body, BIL Sweden, said a record year for new car sales helped the VW Golf to take almost 6% of the market during 2016.

Volvo's three most popular models - the V70, S90 and V90 - took a combined share of 5.7% in its home market.

Almost 22% of Swedes drive Volvos, reflecting national pride in the 90-year old brand's reputation for quality, but it has been Chinese-owned since 2010.

VW took the title despite the fallout from itsdiesel emissions scandal that has seen the company pledge a new focus on electric power in the years ahead.

Commenting on the achievement, VW's Swedish unit said: "It's been 54 years since another brand than Volvo topped this statistic.

"The last time this happened was in 1962 and Volkswagen was at the top even then," it added, referring to the Volkswagen Beetle.

BIL Sweden said: "The strength of the automotive market in 2016 is explained by the strong economic situation, robust purchasing power, record low interest rates and a stable labour market.

It said that it expected sales of new cars to fall 3% during 2017.

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