Sweden 1988: Volvo 700 leads, VW Golf #2 in record market

Volvo 740

* See ‘Read more’ for the Top 25 best-selling models! Many thanks to Torbjörn for the data *

1988 is a record year for Swedish car sales: they are up 9% on 1987 to reach 343,963 units, a figure that remains unbeaten since. The Volvo 700 easily holds onto its pole position with sales up 10% to 46,711 units, the highest volume ever reached in a year by a single model in Sweden. It commends a sizeable 13.6% market share.

VW Golf

Possibly for the first time ever in Sweden, a foreign model climbs onto the 2nd spot: the VW Golf is up 9% and sells just under 20,000 units this year for a 5.8% market share. It is followed by the Volvo 200 (5.3%) and Opel Kadett (4.6%), both up spot and passing the Saab 900, down 29% at 4% share.

Notice the new Saab 9000 creeping up to 7th place (+42%), the Toyota Corolla up to #8 (+47%) and the Mazda 626 breaking into the Top 10 at #10 (+105%), making it 2 Japanese models in the Swedish year-end Top 10 for the very first time.

Previous post: see the Swedish 1985-1987 Top 20 best-selling models here.

Full Year 1988 Top 25 Ranking Table below.