Hungary Full Year 2015: Suzuki Vitara lands at #2 in market up 14%

The Suzuki Vitara is the big surprise of 2015 in Hungary. Picture whatcar.co.uk

* See the Top 35 best-selling brands and Top 20 models by clicking on the title *

Little by little, the Hungarian new car market is creeping back up with sales up 14% in 2015 to 77.172 passenger cars (LCV excluded), but there is still a very long way to go before the record of 234.000 units established back in 2004 is within striking distance. Opel remains the most popular carmaker despite sales down 1%, while Skoda (+15%) overtakes Ford (+1%) for second place and Suzuki (+58%) jumps aged of Volkswagen (+19%) at #4. Renault (+29%), Fiat (+34%), Mercedes (+36%), Mitsubishi (+64%) and Jeep (+115%) also shine.

The Skoda Octavia is #1 in Hungary for the 3rd year in a row. Picture zr.ru

Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia is #1 for the third year in a row and the 4th time in the past 5 years, improving its market share to 6.2% thanks to sales up 20% on 2014. But the main event in the ranking is the blockbuster landing of the locally-produced Suzuki Vitara at a stunning 2nd place overall thanks to 3.733 units sold. The Vitara even led the Hungarian market in July, September and October and becomes the highest-ranking Suzuki since 2009 when the SX4 was #2. Considered a local, Suzuki used to be ultra-dominant in Hungary before the Global Financial Crisis hit in 2009: the Suzuki Swift even held 23.5% of the Hungarian market in 1999 and the best-selling vehicle in the country was a Suzuki for 9 out of 10 years between 1999 and 2008.

The Fiat 500 is up 40% year-on-year in Hungary in 2015. Picture largus.fr

Below, the Opel Astra is up 18% to #3, the Suzuki Swift is up 12% to #5, the Fiat 500 up 40% to #8, VW Passat up 122% to #9, the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is up 21% but down one spot to #11, the Nissan Qashqai is up 31% to #12, the Ford Kuga up 34% to #17 and the Skoda Fabia up 46% to #20.

Previous post: Hungary November 2015: Skoda Octavia back to #1, VW Passat up to #4

Previous year: Hungary Full Year 2014: Skoda Octavia #1, Opel Mokka at world best

Two years ago: Hungary Full Year 2013: Skoda Octavia reclaims top spot

Full Year 2015 Top 35 brands and Top 20 models vs. Full Year 2014 figures below.