Finland 1980: Datsun and Cherry best-sellers

Datsun is the best-selling brand and the Cherry is the best-selling model in Finland in 1980.

* See the Top 50 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland gain 3.9% year-on-year in 1980 to 103.184 units, and Datsun takes off to unchartered territory with deliveries up 30% to a record 16.7% share. Toyota surges 82% to 10.7% and 2nd place, making the Top 2 100% Japanese for the first time in Finnish history. Lada (-10%), Fiat (-16%) and Saab (-34%) are all knocked down one spot to #3, #4 and #5 respectively. Volvo (-16%) remains in 6th place ahead of Ford (-24%) and Opel (-25%) while Talbot (+151%) brilliantly breaks into the Top 10 at #9 for its first full year in market. Volkswagen (+5%) is relegated to 10th place, its worst ranking since stats began in 1956, also hit in 1976. Mazda (+36%), Mitsubishi (+212%) and Honda (+127%) all post spectacular results, making it five Japanese brands in the Top 15 for the first time.

The new Horizon enables Tablot to enter the Finnish Top 10 in 1980.

To make Datsun’s triumph complete, the Cherry (+9%) overtakes the long-time best-seller the Lada 1200-2103 (-9%) to snap this year’s pole position with a record 10.1% share. The Toyota Corolla rallies back up 122% to return to the podium at #3, knocking the Fiat 127 (-3%) down to #4. The Datsun Sunny is up 3-fold and 11 spots to land at #5, making it three Japanese nameplates in the Top 5 for the first time. The Skoda 105-136 (+24%) is up three spots to #6 and the Talbot Horizon is the most popular newcomer, landing directly at #13. Notice also the Toyota Carina up 87% to #17, the Toyota Tercel up 40% to #18, the Honda Civic up 258% to #21, the Mazda 626 up 160% to #23 and Mitsubishi Colt up 236% to #26.

Previous year: Finland 1979: Datsun most popular marque for the first time

Full Year 1980 Top 50 All-brands and models below.