Sweden 1981-1982: Volvo 200 and Saab 900 at their highest
Volvo 244
* See ‘Read more’ for the Top 20 best-selling models! Many thanks to Torbjörn for the data *
Swedish car sales are down 12% in 1981 to 188,522 registrations but back up 16% in 1982 to 218,428 units. The Volvo 200 is head and shoulders above the competition again and reaches its best-ever market share in Sweden in ’81 at a mammoth 21.6% thanks to 40,688 sales. In ’82 it is at 20.7% and 45,288 units.
Saab 900
The Saab 900 confirms the 2nd spot it acquired in ’79 and also delivers a best-ever share in ’81 at 10.3% with 19,422 sales then to 9.9% and 21,544 units in ’82. The VW Golf/Jetta establishes itself on the podium over the period at a fantastic 7.6% share in ’81 and 6.2% in ’82. The Volvo 300 drops to #4 in ’81 and #5 in ’82, passed by the Opel Kadett (5%).
Interestingly the Saab 99 resists: up 40% and 2 spots in ’82 to 8,445 units and 3.9%. The Mazda 323 is the first Japanese big seller in the country, #7 both years and up 30% in ’82 with 8,329 sales and 3.8%.
Previous post: see the Swedish 1979 Top 25 and 1980 Top 7 best-selling models here.
Full Year 1981 and 1982 Ranking Tables below.
Sweden 1981:
| Pos | Model | 1981 | % |
| 1 | Volvo 200 | 40,688 | 21.6% |
| 2 | Saab 900 | 19,422 | 10.3% |
| 3 | VW Golf/Jetta | 14,331 | 7.6% |
| 4 | Volvo 300 | 9,076 | 4.8% |
| 5 | Opel Kadett | 9,041 | 4.8% |
| 6 | Ford Escort | 6,809 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Mazda 323 | 6,409 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Saab 99 | 6,051 | 3.2% |
| 9 | Ford Fiesta | 5,014 | 2.7% |
| 10 | Ford Taunus | 4,856 | 2.6% |
| 11 | Mercedes 200-240/300 | 4,833 | 2.6% |
| 12 | Ford Granada | 4,233 | 2.2% |
| 13 | Opel Rekord | 3,847 | 2.0% |
| 14 | VW Passat | 3,788 | 2.0% |
| 15 | Opel Ascona | 2,551 | 1.4% |
| 16 | Audi 80 | 2,295 | 1.2% |
| 17 | Datsun Cherry | 1,959 | 1.0% |
| 18 | Toyota Corolla | 1,815 | 1.0% |
| 19 | Toyota Starlet | 1,534 | 0.8% |
| 20 | Toyota Carina | 1,268 | 0.7% |
Sweden 1982:
| Pos | Model | 1982 | % | 82/81 | 1981 | % | Pos |
| 1 | Volvo 200 | 45,288 | 20.7% | 11% | 40,688 | 21.6% | 1 |
| 2 | Saab 900 | 21,544 | 9.9% | 11% | 19,422 | 10.3% | 2 |
| 3 | VW Golf/Jetta | 13,483 | 6.2% | -6% | 14,331 | 7.6% | 3 |
| 4 | Opel Kadett | 10,872 | 5.0% | 20% | 9,041 | 4.8% | 5 |
| 5 | Volvo 300 | 10,440 | 4.8% | 15% | 9,076 | 4.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Saab 99 | 8,445 | 3.9% | 40% | 6,051 | 3.2% | 8 |
| 7 | Mazda 323 | 8,329 | 3.8% | 30% | 6,409 | 3.4% | 7 |
| 8 | Ford Escort | 8,026 | 3.7% | 18% | 6,809 | 3.6% | 6 |
| 9 | Opel Ascona | 6,488 | 3.0% | 154% | 2,551 | 1.4% | 15 |
| 10 | Ford Fiesta | 5,410 | 2.5% | 8% | 5,014 | 2.7% | 9 |
| 11 | Mercedes 200-240/300 | 5,278 | 2.4% | 9% | 4,833 | 2.6% | 11 |
| 12 | Ford Granada | 4,563 | 2.1% | 8% | 4,233 | 2.2% | 12 |
| 13 | Opel Rekord | 4,239 | 1.9% | 10% | 3,847 | 2.0% | 13 |
| 14 | VW Passat | 4,141 | 1.9% | 9% | 3,788 | 2.0% | 14 |
| 15 | Audi 80 | 2,895 | 1.3% | 26% | 2,295 | 1.2% | 16 |
| 16 | Toyota Corolla | 2,644 | 1.2% | 46% | 1,815 | 1.0% | 18 |
| 17 | Ford Taunus | 2,580 | 1.2% | -47% | 4,856 | 2.6% | 10 |
| 18 | Renault 5 | 2,288 | 1.0% | 158% | 887 | 0.5% | n/a |
| 19 | VW Polo | 2,184 | 1.0% | 156% | 852 | 0.5% | n/a |
| 20 | Datsun Cherry | 2,118 | 1.0% | 8% | 1,959 | 1.0% | 17 |
| 21 | Toyota Starlet | 2,114 | 1.0% | 38% | 1,534 | 0.8% | n/a |
| 22 | Honda Accord | 2,111 | 1.0% | 142% | 874 | 0.5% | n/a |
| 23 | Toyota Carina | 2,020 | 0.9% | 59% | 1,268 | 0.7% | n/a |
| 24 | BMW 518-526 | 1,922 | 0.9% | 53% | 1,257 | 0.7% | n/a |
| 25 | Volvo 700 | 1,794 | 0.8% | new | 0 | 0.0% | - |
Source: Bilsweden, many thanks to Torbjörn for sharing the data!
