Finland Full Year 2019: Skoda Octavia claims 5th win in past 6 years in weakest market since 2015

The Skoda Octavia is #1 in Finland for the 5th time in the past 6 years.

Consult close to 65 years of Finland Historical Data here.

23/01/20 update: Now with Top 62 All-brands and Top 350 All-models.

Despite a December boost (+33.2%), the Finnish new car market does slide down -5.4% year-on-year in 2019 to 112.489 registrations, its lowest annual score since 2015. Toyota (+1%) swims upstream and improves its share by almost one percentage point to 13.5%, leaving Volkswagen (-11.1%) three percentage points below. The rest of the Top 5 is in negative with Skoda (-1.7%) and Volvo (-0.3%) gaining share but Ford (-7%) struggling. Kia (+14.6%) is the standout performer in the Top 10, even posting the only double-digit gain in the Top 15, with Mercedes (+4.1%) and Hyundai (+1%) also in positive but Nissan (-28.3%) and Opel (-15%) in dire straits. Tesla (+437.2%), Mitsubishi (+82.4%), Land Rover (+28.5%), Lexus (+26%) and Citroen (+16.9%) score the largest surges in the remainder of the Top 30 while Renault (+8%) benefits from its now traditional December/end-of-year surge, uncharacteristically leaping to #1 after ranking #2 in 2016, #1 in 2017 and #3 in 2018.

In the models ranking, the Skoda Octavia (+12%) reclaims the annual pole position for 5th time in the past 6 years and the 6th time overall (add 2011). The new Toyota Corolla (+1220.3%) replaces the Auris and lurches directly to #2 this year, the only nameplate selling over 5.000 annual units alongside the Octavia. Leader last year, the Nissan Qashqai (-21.7%) sinks to #3 ahead of the Toyota Yaris (+4%) and Ford Focus (+47%). The Volvo V60 (+76.1%) shoots up 16 spots into the Top 10 thanks to the new generation but all remaining Top 10 models implode, with the VW Golf (-24.6%), Ford Fiesta (-19%) and Volvo XC60 (-13.5%) the hardest hit. The Mercedes A-Class (+68.1%), Toyota RAV4 (+56.5%), VW T-Roc (+39.5%), Volvo XC40 (+28.7%), Skoda Karoq (+26.5%), BMW 3 Series (+25.3%) and Kia Cee’d (+21.1%) all post spectacular gains in the remainder of the Top 30.

Back-loading its sales once again, Renault was #1 in December, like in 2017.

The models ranking is once again disrupted by last minute artificial registrations by the Renault Group, with the Clio propelled to December’s best-seller for the 4th year in a row, the Dacia Duster up to #8 for its 4th ever Top 10 appearance in Finland after December 2016 (#5), December 2018 (#10) and November 2019 (#6) and the Renault Kadjar (#9) securing its third ever December Top 10 appearance after 2016 (#6) and 2017 (#10). Only the Renault Captur misses out, it ranked #4 in December 2017 and #6 in 2018 but can’t make it into the Top 10 this year due to the transition to the new generation.

Previous month: Finland November 2019: Dacia Duster storms up to record #6 in market edging up 0.2%

Previous year: Finland 2018: Nissan Qashqai outpaces Skoda Octavia to sign second ever win

Two years ago: Finland 2017: Toyota passes VW, Skoda Octavia remains #1 model

Full Year 2019 Top 62 All-brands and Top 350 All-models vs. Full Year 2018 figures below.

Full December 2019 Top 30 brands and models below.