Tunisia Full Year 2014: Citroen #1 for the first time, Symbol best-seller

Citroen C-Elysée – Citroen is #1 in Tunisia for the first time in 2014.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 10 best-selling brands and models *

Official figures for the Tunisian new car market show sales  up 11% year-on-year in 2014 to 53.362 registrations, split between 38.210 passenger cars and 15.152 commercial vehicles. However grey imports escaping any legislation represented another estimated 28.000 registrations (+2%), lifting the total new market up to 81.400 units (+8%) according to Tunisian website Africanmanager.com. We witness a momentous event in Tunisia this year: for the first time in the long history of the brand in the country, French manufacturer Citroen tops the brands ranking thanks to 5.670 sales and 10.6% share, up 3% on 2014 and benefitting from the freefall of Renault, market leader in 2013 but down 30.5% this year. This makes Tunisia the only country in the world to crown Citroen as its #1 brand.

The Renault Symbol should still top the Tunisian models ranking in 2014.

Marking a clear fragmentation of Tunisian car sales, Citroen is the only manufacturer to hold over 10% of the market in 2014 vs. four in 2013. Volkswagen jumps two spots to 2nd place overall despite sales down 5%, while Peugeot (-7%) rounds up the podium. Only 5 years after being introduced in the country, Kia manages to break into the annual Top 5 brands in Tunisia this year with sales up 22%. Notice also Isuzu up 30%, Hyundai up a mammoth 170% and Toyota up 38%. Model-wise, despite sales down 29% on 2014 the Renault Symbol remains the best-selling nameplate in the country with 5.4% share bit the VW Polo and Fiat Punto are catching up fast at 5% share. The Kia Rio should leap 3 spots and 21% to #4, the Isuzu D-Max should be up to #7 and the Citroen C-Elysée should be breaking into the Top 10.

Previous post: Tunisia 7 months 2014: Renault Symbol and Kia Rio on top

Previous year: Tunisia Full Year 2013: Renault Symbol leads, Peugeot 301 lands at #5

Two years ago: Tunisia Full Year 2012: Renault, Volkswagen and Peugeot dominate 

Full Year 2014 Top 10 brands & models vs. Full Year 2013 figures below.