Sweden 1993-1994: Volvo 850 new best-seller

Volvo 850

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Torbjörn and STAC *

The Swedish car market stays fragile over the period, down 19% in 1993 to 124,434 registrations but up 26% in 1994 to 156,375 units. Still Number 2 halfway through ’93 at 10% share, the Volvo 850 snaps the Swedish pole position away from the Volvo 900 at year-end with 13,967 sales and 11.2% share (up 41%) vs. 11,845 and 9.5% (-3%) for the 900. The Volvo 850 then reinforces its lead in ’94 when it grows by a further 60% to reach 22,343 sales and a huge 14.3% share while the 900 is at 13,741 units and 8.8%.

Volvo 960

A Saab is in third place in both years: in ’93 the Saab 9000 falls by 32% to 7,387 sales but it’s enough to stay on the podium. It drops to #4 in ’94. The Saab 900, boosted by the second generation just launched, is up 66% to #6 in ’93 and a further 109% to #3 in ’94 with 10,791 sales and 6.9%.

Saab 900

The VW Golf is the best-selling foreign model in ’93 at #4 with 5,314 sales and 4.3% in spite of a 15% drop. The Ford Mondeo lands directly at a brilliant 10th spot even as it got launch during the year at 3,256 units and 2.6% and doubles its sales in ’94 to #8 with 6,507 sales and 4.2%. The Ford Escort then takes the relay as the favourite import of the country in ’94 at #4 with 7,912 units and 5.1%, up a massive 101% year-on-year. In the meantime the Volvo 440/460 experiences a mini-revival in ’94 (#7 at +40%).

Previous post: see the Swedish 1992 Top 25 best-selling models here.

6 months 1993 Top 30 and Full Year 1993-94 Top 50 Ranking Tables below.