Finland 1997: VW best-seller for first time in 30 years, Corolla #1

The Polo scores its first Top 10 finish just as Volkswagen is #1 for the first time in 30 years.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland gain another 8.6% in 1997 to cross the 100.000 annual units milestone for the first time since 1990 at 104.471. We have a new brand leader this year in Finland: for the first time in 30 years, Volkswagen is the best-selling carmaker in the country thanks to deliveries up 7% to 13.2% share. The last time the German carmaker dominated the Finnish charts was from 1965 to 1967. Opel (-1%) is knocked down to #2 while the rest of the Top 6 is unchanged on 1996, led by Toyota (+11%), Ford (+18%) and Nissan (+12%). Renault (+20%) overtakes Peugeot (+2%) to #7 with Mazda (+21%) back inside the Top 10, Skoda (+82%) and Audi (+62%) posting the largest gains in the Top 20 but Lada (-70%) imploding at #20.

The Toyota Corolla reclaims the title of best-selling vehicle in Finland in 1997.

Opel is toppled on both fronts in 1997: it also loses the models pole position with the Toyota Corolla (+17%) reclaiming the lead for the first time since 1993 and the 11th time in total (1973 and 1985 to 1993). The Opel Astra (-7%) and Vectra (-3%) seemingly sell exactly the same amount which seems like a typo, ahead of the Ford Mondeo (+40%),  Nissan Almera (+24%) and Primera (+9%). Paradoxically, the VW Golf (-20%) and Vento (-11%) suffer but the Polo (+64%) justifies the brand’s leadership, scoring its very first Finnish Top 10 at #9., with the Passat (+51%) not far behind at #12. The Renault Megane (+60%) and Volvo S/V40 (+50%) also shine with the Volvo S/V70 landing directly at #16

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Full Year 1997 Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models below.