Finland August 2018: Non WLTP-compliant sales boost Qashqai to 12.5%

90% of Nissan sales in Finland in August go to the Qashqai.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

In Norway too, August new car sales are significantly impacted by stock clearances of non-compliant vehicles ahead of the implementation of a new Europe-wide emissions test standard called WLTP. Registrations are up 24.6% year-on-year to 11.904 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 9.8% to 89.936. Not all carmakers have played the system equally, and in Finland it’s Nissan (+225%) that has been the most blatant this month, artificially snapping the lead of the brands ranking with 13.9% share vs. 6.9% so far in 2018. In fact a whopping 90% of Nissan August sales in Finland are the Qashqai (+301%) up 4-fold to snap an extravagant – albeit completely artificial – 12.5% share vs. 5.3% YTD but the real world impact this performance has is that the Qashqai is now Finland’s best-seller in 2018.

Toyota (+0.5%), Volkswagen (+13%), Skoda (+3%), Opel (+13%) and Ford (+11%) follow and are not affected with Volvo (+36%) posting a solid gain most likely due to gearing up of the XC40 rather than pre-WLTP sales. Subaru (+374%), Porsche (+354%), Hyundai (+110%), Fiat (+100%), Mazda (+68%) and Seat (+41%) all make sure to clear non-compliant stock whereas the strong uplifts at Citroen (+82%), Suzuki (+60%) and Dacia (+48%) seem more natural because in line with the carmakers’ behaviour so far this year. The Hyundai i30 (+371%), Ford Fiesta (+267%), VW Polo (+50%), Opel Astra (+37%), Volvo V40 (+36%), Toyota Auris (+35%) and Toyota C-HR (+34%) post the largest gains in the Top 30 while the VW T-Roc (#15) tops recent launches just above the Opel Grandland X (#16) making its first entrance in the Finnish Top 20.

Previous month: Finland July 2018: Nissan Qashqai leads, VW T-Roc up to #14

One year ago: Finland August 2017: Toyota and Kia impress in market up 4.8%

Full August 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.