Latvia October 2014: Suzuki Jimny lands on top

The Suzuki Jimny is the surprise Latvian October market leader.

* See the Top 30 All-brands and Top 75 models by clicking on the title *

First month of year-on-year decline for new light vehicle sales in Latvia, down 2% in October to 1,401 registrations. However the year-to-date total is still up by a flamboyant 17% to 12,473 units. Given its small size and the unofficial strength of re-exports inside the European Union, the Latvian brands and, particularly, models sales charts are very dependent on one-off promotions and special orders, and therefore always very volatile. October is a case in point with the Suzuki Jimny selling 117 units for a 8.4% market share whereas it had sold 4 units so far this year before October… The October Jimny score accounts for 91% of the Suzuki brand sales and 65% of the brand’s 2014 sales so far, single-handedly lifting it up to #3 manufacturer in October with 128 units and 9.1% vs. #28 in September and #21 year-to-date (181 sales and 1.5%). Local car registration body Autoassociation.lv has confirmed the totality of these Jimny sales has gone to re-export and none of them in fact hit Latvian roads…

The BMW X5 is up to #12 this month in Latvia.

In other news, Volkswagen is particularly strong this month at 19.3% market share vs. 17.4% YTD, double the #2 Toyota a little weak at 9.5% vs. 12.1% YTD. Skoda (7.4%) is knocked down to #4 by Suzuki while Renault is up one spot to #5 and Nissan down one to #6. Model-wise, below the Jimny the VW Golf and Nissan Qashqai are both up one rank on September to #2 and #3 respectively, also their YTD rankings, the VW Passat is up two to #4, the Skoda Yeti down 3 to #5 but still leader YTD by far, the Renault Scénic up from outside the September Top 75 directly to #7 vs. #24 YTD, the VW Up up to #9 vs. #47 and the BMW X5 up to #12 vs. #38.

Previous post: Latvia: Dartz Prombron Black Shark to be produced at 10 units

Previous month: Latvia September 2014: Ford Focus sovereign

Previous year: Latvia Full Year 2013: VW Golf and Ford Focus on top

Full October 2014 Top 30 All-brands and Top 75 models Ranking Tables below.