Finland 1999-2000: Opel Astra and Ford Focus on top

The Opel Astra is the best-selling vehicle in Finland over the period…

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

New car sales in Finland continue to gallop ahead at +8.8% to 136.224 units, the highest score in exactly ten years, since 1990 (139.180). Opel (+7%) remains the best-selling carmaker with Ford (+26%) advancing to #2 which is its highest ranking in Finland since 1982. Volkswagen (+20%) is a close third, both carmaker knocking Toyota (-7%) down to #4 whereas Nissan (+5%) remains at #5. The rest of the Top 12 is unchanged with Peugeot (+15%) and Volvo (+10%) the only brands managing a double-digit gain. Chrysler (+74%), Seat (+45%) and BMW (+26%) also impresses in the Top 20. Note all Korean carmakers Hyundai, Kia and Ssangyong fall down to zero sales this year.

Up 33% year-on-year thanks to its 2nd generation, the Opel Astra reclaims the time of best-selling vehicle in Finland at 7.1% share while a newcomer lands directly at #2 – an exceptional performance: the Ford Focus with 5.5% share. The Toyota Avensis drops 12% but remains in third place, which means last year’s leader, the Toyota Corolla, sinks to #4. It is the first time the Corolla isn’t Toyota’s best-seller in Finland. The VW Golf (+19%) is back up four spots to #5, the Renault Megane (+10%) breaks into the Top 10 for the first time at #9, while the VW Bora (#18), Toyota Yaris (#19), Peugeot 206 (#20) and Volvo S80 (#21) all make noticeable entrances.

…while the Ford Focus ranks 2nd both years.

In 2000, the Finnish new car market is down 1.1% to 134.654 registrations. Toyota (+7%) is up three spots to reclaim the brands lead at 11.4% share, knocking Opel (-16%) down to #2 and 10.7% with Volkswagen (-1%) a close third again at 10.6%. Ford (-17%) drops two spots to #4 and 9% while Volvo (+22%) returns to the Top 5 for the first time since 1993, pushing Nissan (-11%) down to #6 while the remainder of the Top 10 is unchanged and has only Renault (+12%) managing a positive score. Lada is reborn with a 94% surge to #16.

Model-wise, the Opel Astra repeats in the lead – its fifth win overall – despite a steep 31% drop to 5% share, with the Ford Focus also falling heavily at -19% to 4.5%. The Toyota Avensis (-1%) remains third for the third consecutive year, wth the VW Golf (+19%) up one spot to #4 and the Volvo S/V70 (+93%) up 12 ranks to #5. The Toyota Corolla (-6%) continues to slide down, now 6th, whereas the Renault Megane is up 36% to #7 and the Toyota Yaris (+63%) up 10 ranks to end its first full year in market inside the Top 10 at #9. The Fiat Punto is up 88% and 12 spots to #12, the Opel Zafira up 144% and 22 ranks to #21, the Seat Cordoba up 47% and 10 spots to #22 and the Lada Samara up 55% and 15 ranks to #33.

Previous post: Finland 1998: Opel reclaims lead, Toyota Corolla #1, Avensis #3

Full Year 1999 and 2000 Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models below.