Greece October 2012: Toyota Yaris and Citroen C3 shine

November 6, 2012
Matt Gasnier

Toyota Yaris

* See the Top 80 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

After 9 consecutive months of year-on-year decline, the Greek new car market is up 2% year-on-year in October and for the first time in 2012, to a still extremely shy 5,111 registrations. This brings the year-to-date total to 50,641 units, down a steep 40% on 2011. For the 4th time in the last 12 months after last December, February and August, the Toyota Yaris is the most popular model in the country with 413 sales and 8.1%, its 2nd highest market share in the last 2 years behind the 14.7% it hit in December 2011. The Citroen C3 is back up 8 spots to a shiny 2nd place at 366 units and 7.2%, its 2nd strongest share ever in Greece below the 8.4% it hit last June.

The Opel Corsa rounds up the podium at an excellent 7.1% and keeps the lead of the 2012 year-to-date ranking at 3,355 sales and 6.6%. It is followed by the VW Polo very solid at 6.6% and the Opel Astra at 3.5%. The Peugeot 208 is up 3 ranks to a best-ever #6 at 151 units and 3%, the Citroen C4 is up 8 to #10, the Fiat Grande Punto up 9 to #14, the Kia Rio robust at #15, the Fiat new Panda up 25 to #20, the Honda Civic up 23 to #25 and the Volvo V40 breaks into the Greek Top 50 for the first time at #40 with 38 sales.

Lifan 320

Greece is one of only a few countries in Western Europe where Chinese cars are available, but their success has been extremely limited. The most successful year-to-date is the Lifan 320 with just 8 units sold (all-new for 2012), followed by the ChangAn Benni with 4 sales (-50%) and the JAC Rein with one (new). The HX Auto Noble, a clone of the Smart Fortwo, is down 96% with one sale as well.

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