Finland 1983-1984: Nissan stays #1, Toyota #2

The Sunny helps Nissan remain atop the Finnish brands charts over the period.

* See the Top 45 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland skid 6.7% in 1983 to 119.421 units, still the second best-ever annual volume. Datsun is renamed Nissan and holds onto the title of best-selling marque in Finland for the 5th year in a row but this time Toyota (+14%) overtakes Ford (-21%) to rank #2, meaning the two most popular brands are Japanese for the second time ever after 1980. Lada (-10%) outpaces Opel (-12%) to rebound to #4, with Mazda up 20% and three spots to climb to a record 6th place. Saab (-5%) and Volvo (-6%) resist but Fiat (-14%) and Talbot (-22%) struggle. Mitsubishi is up 7% to #11, overtaking Volkswagen down another 18% to a worst-ever #12, Honda is up 13% to #13 and Suzuki shoots up 180% to break into the Top 20 at #17. Along with Daihatsu (#22) and Subaru (#26), there are now 8 Japanese brands in the Top 30.

Model-wise, the Lada 1200-2106 remains by far the most popular, celebrating 9 wins in the past decade despite sales down 11% to 8% share. The Nissan Sunny leaps up 37% and four spots to #2, the nameplate’s highest ever ranking, replacing the Nissan Cherry down 43% to #4 while the Toyota Corolla is back up 9% to #3. The Mazda 323 (-9%) remains at #5, making it four Japanese nameplates in the Top 5, a record. Other great performers include the Mazda 626 up 226% to #13 and the Ford Sierra up 251% to #15. We welcome the Opel Corsa at #26 and the Fiat Uno at #31.

The Lada 1200-2107 has now been Finland’s best-seller for 10 of the past 11 years.

The Finnish market returns to growth in 1984 with sales up 6.3% to 126.995, a new all-time record. Nissan celebrates six consecutive years atop the brands charts despite dropping 5% to 11.7%, and is followed once again by Toyota (+2%) at 10.2%. Lada (+18%) passes Ford (+14%) to claim the third spot overall with Opel (+13%) and Mazda (+9%) holding onto their positions. Fiat (+7%) is now above Saab (+1%) while Volkswagen surges 48% to return inside the Top 10 at #9. Mitsubishi (+11%) remains just outside the Top 10 whereas Honda (-4%) and Suzuki (-24%) are starting to pant. Peugeot (+53%) and Citroen (+46%) impress.

It’s another win for the Lada 1200-2107, the 10th in the past 11 years and with sales up 19% its share climbs back to 8.9%, far love the Nissan Sunny (+7%) and Toyota Corolla (+18%) in a podium unchanged on 1983. The Ford Escort (+25%) is up two spots to #4 while the Mazda 323 (-8%) remains in 5th place for the third year in a row, overtaking the Nissan Cherry (-34%) just as the Mazda 626 (+41%) breaks into the Top 10 and makes it five Japanese nameplates in the Top 7. The Fiat Uno (+134%) is an instant blockbuster, ending its first full year of sales at #13 with the Opel Corsa (+76%) also successful at #14. The VW Golf reappears inside the Top 50 at #24 thanks to the new generation.

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Full Year 1983 and 1984 Top 45 All-brands and Top 50 models below.