United Arab Emirates Full Year 2018: Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero & Toyota Land Cruiser top market down 19.1%

The Nissan Patrol is the most popular nameplate in the UAE for the 2nd year running.

Consult 15 years of United Arab Emirates Historical Data here.

The United Arab Emirates market endures a third consecutive year of double-digit decline in 2018 at -19.1% to just 219.269 units, handicapped further by the decision of BMW (#4 in 2017)  to stop reporting sales in the region, in effect removing roughly 18.000 sales from the 2018 total. Like-for-like brands selection see the market down a slightly more palatable -10.6% for the year. Brands leader Toyota (-20.8%) falls a little faster tham the market, resulting is a 29.9% share vs. 30.5% last year. But both other brands on the podium return impeccable scorecards: Nissan is up 8.5% to 23.7% share and Mitsubishi up 16.1% to 13% share. Only Land Rover (+28.5%) manages a gain in the Top 10, just as Lexus (-33.7%), Kia (-32.1%) and Hyundai (-24.5%) crumble apart and Honda (-16.7%), Ford (-18.3%), Chevrolet (-18.8%) hold up better. Further down, Chinese MG (+122.2%), Lincoln (+50.5%), Jaguar (+14.7%) and Hino (+13.5%) are the only other gainers in market.

Model-wise, the Nissan Patrol (+1.7%) manages a second consecutive year in pole position, improving its share by two percentage points to a stunning 9.8%. The performer of the year is the Mitsubishi Pajero (+97.5%) almost doubling its sales year-on-year and gaining 6 spots on 2017 to land at a spectacular 2nd place, knocking the Toyota Land Cruiser (-15.2%) to #3. This means the 2018 UAE podium is 100% composed of full-size 4×4 SUVs, a dying breed anywhere else in the world outside the Middle East. The Nissan Sunny (+67.8%) also posts a spectacular gain to land at #4, toppling the Toyota Camry (-274%) and Mitsubishi Lancer EX (-33.1%) to become the best-selling passenger car in the country. The Toyota HIlux (-19%) and Prado (+10.2%) resist ok to round out the Top 6. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport (+72.5%), Nissan Kicks (+55.2%) and Range Rover (+32.6%) also shine in the Top 25 while the Toyota Rush (#34) is the best-selling 2018 launch above the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (#65).

All-brands and All-models 2005-2018 monthly/annual data available. Contact us here for more details.

Previous post: United Arab Emirates January-October 2018: Nissan Patrol strong at #1

Previous year: United Arab Emirates 2017: Nissan Patrol surprise leader

Two years ago: United Arab Emirates 2016: Toyota Land Cruiser takes control

Full Year 2018 Top 42 All-brand and Top 50 models vs. Full Year 2017 figures below.