Greece Full Year 2015: Yaris, Corsa & Polo lead unstable market

The Toyota Yaris is the best-selling nameplate in Greece in 2015.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 288 All-models by clicking on the title *

On paper the Greek new car market shows an honest 6% year-on-year improvement to 75.805 registrations, the second consecutive year of growth after an excruciating 6 straight years of decline took it from 279,554 registrations in 2007 to just 58,694 in 2013. The reality is not as smooth sailing however. This year new car sales in Greece alternated months of extravagant growth with deep declines, reflecting the “Grexit” uncertainty that hung around for a significant part of the year. If April was up 43% and May up 22%, July was down 29% and October down 18%…

The Peugeot 208 helps the French manufacturer surge up 147% in Greece this year. 

Toyota remains the most popular manufacturer in the country thanks to sales up 11% to 8.866 for a 11.7% share, distancing Volkswagen (-2%) at 8.9% and Nissan up one spot and 10% to 8.6% share. Opel tumbles down 7% to 8% but Peugeot is up a spectacular 147% and 11 ranks to return to the success it had a few years back in 5th place. Notice also Suzuki up 21% and 3 ranks to #6, Mercedes up 28% to #9 (and #1 in September!), BMW up 19% to #12, Mini up 24%, Smart up 200% and Jeep up 1234%.

Mercedes was the best-selling car brand in Greece in September.

Model-wise, the Toyota Yaris wins the annual race for the 3rd consecutive year and the fourth time in the past 6 years with sales up a very impressive 20% to 5.017, vastly increasing the gap with the #2, the Opel Corsa, leader in 2011 and 2012 but down 13% to 3,492 this year despite a new generation. Like in 2014, the VW Polo (6%) rounds up the podium and is followed this time by the Peugeot 208 (+124%) and Nissan Qashqai (+22%).

SH Auto CEO

The Toyota Aygo takes advantage of the new generation to gain 38% at #14, the Mercedes A-Class is up 35% to #18, the Ford Focus up 63% to #20 and the Hyundai i10 up 137% to #22. Launched in December 2014, the Suzuki Celerio leaps to #23, while the Suzuki Vitara is the best-selling all-new model for 2015 at #31. After the HX Auto Noble in 2013 and the ChangAn Benni in 2014, the resident Chinese model in the annual Greek rankings with one lonely unit sold in 2015 is the SH Auto CEO.

Previous month: Greece November 2015: Toyota Yaris shoots up to 9.5% share

Previous year: Greece Full Year 2014: Toyota Yaris resists Opel Corsa assault

Two years ago: Greece Full Year 2013: Toyota Yaris reclaims lead from Opel Corsa

Full Year 2015 Top 40 All-brands and Top 288 All-models vs. Full 2014 figures below.