Syria Full Year 2016: Kia Frontier tops market down 36%

The Kia Frontier is the best-selling nameplate in Syria in 2016. 

* See the Top 5 All-brands and Top 30 All-models by clicking on the title *

Consult three years worth of Syrian Historical Data here

New car sales data is the least of Syria’s worries in the current context, yet the government continues to communicate it and it is our job to report it. Understandably, the Syrian market is down 36% year-on-year in 2016 to 8.963 registrations, with still only two carmakers selling significant volumes. Hyundai remains the #1 brand in the country and sees its sales plunge 38% to hit 52.3% market share vs. 53.4% a year ago, while sister company Kia is down 35% to 46.2% share vs. 45.5% in 2015. The remaining 1.5% of the market is shared web teen Nissan, Subaru and Mazda.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is up 83% to #5 in Syria in 2016. 

Model-wise, the Kia Frontier pickup (-35%) overtakes the Hyundai Elantra (-52%) to take the lead, making Syria the second country in the world alongside Iraq where the Frontier is #1. The rest of the Top 6 is solely composed of SUVs: the Kia Sportage (-33%), Hyundai Tucson (-29%), Santa Fe (+83%) and Kia Sorento (-3%). Notice also the Kia Optima (+107%) and Hyundai HR Truck (+74%) posting spectacular gains.

Previous post: Syria January-July 2016: Elantra back in charge, market down 56%

Previous year: Syria Full Year 2015: Hyundai Elantra leads in market down 43%

Two years ago: Syria Full Year 2014: Hyundai tops market in crisis

Full Year 2016 Top 5 All-brands and Top 30 All-models vs. Full Year 2015 figures below.