Finland 1991: Toyota and Nissan top weakest market since 1979

The Toyota Corolla celebrates 7 consecutive years as Finland’s best-seller.

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

Finland continues to suffer a severe correction with 1991 sales down an abysmal 33.6% to just 92.484 units, half of its all-time record of 176.771 reached just two years ago in 1989 and the first five-digit annual figure since 1979. Toyota (-32%) follows the market to post a 7th consecutive annual win but Nissan, down just 11% is catching up fast: less than 700 sales separate the two Japanese carmakers vs. 5.200 in 1990. Opel (-37%) drops one spot to #3 but Ford (-32%) overtakes Lada (-46%) to rank 4th while Mazda (-40%), Peugeot (-41%), Volvo (-38%) and Volkswagen (-51%) implode. Renault (+1%), helped by the Clio (#19) is the only carmaker in the Top 15 to post a sales increase while smaller actors Daihatsu (+189%) and Hyundai, up 212% to #21 and 1.1% share, brave the storm.

The Nissan Sunny is up to #2 in Finland in 1991.

Model-wise, the Toyota Corolla celebrates 7 consecutive years as Finland’s best-seller, 8 in total when adding 1973, following the market at -31% which places it much closer to the Nissan Sunny (-15%) than last year. The Lada 1200-2107 sinks 44% to #3 ahead of the Toyota Carina (-31%) up one spot to #4. The revelation of the year is the Nissan Primera, the carmaker’s response to the Carina, leaping up to #5 for its fist full year in market. Below we find the Opel Vectra (-33%) and Kadett (-53%), Mazda 323 (-44%), Peugeot 405 (-27%) and Mitsubishi Lancer (-7%) – the first Mitsubishi in the Finnish Top 10. The all-new Opel Astra lands at #34 and the Hyundai Pony (#46) becomes the first Korean nameplate to break into the annual Finnish Top 50.

Previous post: Finland 1989-1990: Toyota and Opel dominate, Corolla #1

Full Year 1991 Top 50 All-brands and Top 50 models below.