Greece December 2011: Toyota Yaris shoots up to 14.7% share! Full Year 2011: Opel Corsa #1 in weakest market in 22 years

Toyota Yaris

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After losing 17% in 2009 and 36% in 2010, the Greek car market continues its freefall and is down 31% this year at 97,669 registrations, with December up an encouraging 50% at 5,537 units. It is the first time in 22 years and the 85,645 sales clocked in 1989 that the Greek market falls below 100,000 annual units… 2011 is 66% off Greece’s record year (290,030 units in 2000).

In December the Toyota Yaris takes the lead for only the 2nd time this year and totally takes off! Probably boosted by rental companies eager to get their hands on the new generation, the Yaris sells 813 units for a huge 14.7% share! Other December highlights include the Mercedes C-Class up to #9, the BMW 1 Series up to #11 and the Daihatsu Terios up to #22.

Opel Corsa

In 2011, the Opel Corsa delivers a near-perfect year, #1 for 10 months out of 12 and finishing the year with 6,021 sales and 6.2%, up 11% and 2 spots on 2010. It is the 2nd time the Corsa is Greece’s best-seller after 2007. #1 in 2010, the Toyota Yaris drops to #2 at 4,698 units but improves its market share to 4.8% thanks to a fall of ‘only’ 19%. The VW Polo, down 21%, also progresses to 4.1% share at #3. Below we find the Ford Fiesta (-36%), Opel Astra (-19%) and Toyota Auris (-23%).

Nissan Micra

The Nissan Micra, up 29% and 10 spots to #8 and the Toyota Aygo, up 1% and 5 ranks to #9 are the two newcomers in the Top 10 composed at 70% of superminis. Other great performers this year include the Peugeot 107 up 21 spots to #21, VW Passat up 19 ranks to #27, Alfa Romeo Giulietta up to #32, Mitsubishi ASX up to #33 and Nissan Juke up to #34.

SH Auto CEO

Greece is one of the rare countries in Europe where Chinese models are on sale, but they do not fare well. The HX Auto Noble, a clone of the Smart Fortwo, is the best-seller with only 27 units, down 59% on 2010, followed by the DongFeng Minibus with 4 sales (new) and the SH Auto CEO at 3 units (-70%).

Previous month: Greece November 2011: Opel Corsa hits highest ’11 share, Toyota Yaris up

Previous year: Greece Full Year 2010: Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa on podium

Full Year 2011 Top 100 and December 2011 Top 50 Ranking Tables below.