Spain: 1973-2023 detailed Historical Data now available
The Seat Ibiza first topped the Spanish charts in 1987.
May 2020 update: Now with All-brands annual rankings from 2007 to 2011 and All-models rankings from 2011 onwards, meaning BSCB now offers Spanish All-brands annual data without interruption since 1985.
August 2019 update: Now complete with All-brands, All-models, All LCV brands and All LCV models annual rankings from 1985 to 2006.
The Seat 127 was #1 in Spain from 1973 to 1979.
Seat placed one of its models #1 at home for 23 of the past 50 years. Follow the reign of the Seat 127 #1 from 1973 to 1979 and the first model to sell over 100,000 annual units in the country, still holding the annual Spanish record at 125,066 sales in 1974. Seat would then top its home charts with the Ibiza #1 for the first time in 1987 and repeating this feat 11 times since: from 1996 to 1998, in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and from 2009 to 2013. The Seat Leon would then take the relay from 2014 to 2019 and the Seat Arona landed its very first win in 2021.
The Renault 7, a R5 sedan, was sold exclusively in Spain from 1974 to 1984.
Renault was the most popular carmaker in Spain without interruption from 1985 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2005, also topping the models charts with the Renault 5 in 1981 and 1982, the Renault 9 in 1983, the Renault 11 from 1984 to 1986, the Renault 19 in 1989 and 1990, the Clio in 1991 and 1992 and the Megane in 2004 and 2005.
The Ford Escort topped the Spanish charts in 1994 and 1995.
Ford would briefly take control of the brands ranking in 1995, placing the Escort at #1 in 1994 and 1995 and the Focus at #1 in 2002 and from 2006 to 2008. Citroen ended 10 connective years of reign by Renault in 2006, but placed the Xsara #1 in 1999. Opel also took the models #1 honours with the Kadett in 1988 and the Astra in 1993, while Peugeot had the 206 #1 in 2001.
Spain Historical Data: the direct links to the 45 Spain Historical posts are below:
Spain 1973: Seat places 4 models in Top 4, 127 leads
Spain 1974-1977: Seat 127 reaches record levels
Spain 1978-1979: Seat 127 and Ford Fiesta lead the way
Spain 1980: Ford Fiesta, Renault 5 and Seat Ritmo on top
Spain 1981-1982: Renault 5 reigns
Spain 1983: Renault 9 most popular model
The Renault 11 held 13.5% of the Spanish car market in 1985.
Spain 1984: Renault 11 takes the lead
Spain 1985: Renault 11 distant leader at 13.5% share (updated)
Spain 1986: Renault 11 3peats at #1, Opel Kadett up to #5 (updated)
Spain 1987: Seat Ibiza in pole position for the first time (updated)
Spain 1988: Opel Kadett new best-seller in millionaire market (updated)
Spain 1989: Renault 19 takes the lead in record market (updated)
Spain 1990: Renault 19 (-23.7%) holds onto top spot in market down -12.6% (new)
Spain 1991: Renault Clio topples Renault 19 to #1 in market down -9.8% (updated)
The Renault Clio was #1 in Spain in 1991 and 1992.
Spain 1992: Renault Clio, Renault 19 and Citroen ZX on podium, market up 10.4% (updated)
Spain 1993: Opel Astra new best-seller in weakest market in 7 years (-24.1%) (updated)
Spain 1994: Ford Escort takes control of market up 21.8% (updated)
Spain 1995: Ford topples Renault to #1 brand, places Escort and Fiesta on top (updated)
Spain 1996: Seat Ibiza in pole position for the second time (updated)
Spain 1998: Seat Ibiza holds off Renault Megane, Citroen Xsara on podium in record market (updated)
The Citroen Xsara was the best-seller in Spain in 1999 but missed out for just 43 sales in 2000.
Spain 1999: Citroen Xsara takes the lead in 2nd straight record market (updated)
Spain 2000: Seat Ibiza reclaims #1 spot off Citroen Xsara for just 43 sales (updated)
Spain 2001: Peugeot 206 new leader in record market above 1.4 million (updated)
Spain 2002: Ford Focus most popular (updated)
Spain 2003: Seat Ibiza, Ford Focus and Peugeot 307 on top (updated)
Spain 2004: First win for the Renault Megane in record market (updated)
Spain 2005: Renault Megane repeats at #1 only 645 sales above Ford Focus (updated)
The Renault Megane topped the Spanish charts in 2004 and 2005.
Spain 2006: Ford Focus snaps lead in record market (updated)
Spain 2007: Ford Focus repeats at #1 (updated)
Spain 2008: Ford Focus and Seat Ibiza fight it out (updated)
Spain 2009: Seat Ibiza best-seller for the 7th time (updated)
Spain 2010: Seat Ibiza leads again ahead of Nissan Qashqai (updated)
Spain 2011: Seat Ibiza #1 for the 9th time in lowest market in 18 years (updated)
Spain 2012: Seat Ibiza and Nissan Qashqai resist in worst year since 1986 (updated)
Spain 2013: Seat Ibiza marks 11 years in the lead
The Seat Ibiza last topped its home charts in 2013.
Spain 2014: First ever year of reign for Seat Leon
Spain 2015: Second year of reign for the Seat Leon
Spain 2016: Renault, Seat Leon win in market pushed by rentals
Spain 2017: Seat Leon wins 4th straight crown in largest market in a decade
Spain 2018: Seat reclaims brand lead for first time since 2011, Leon still #1
Spain 2018: Exclusive models ranking for all 51 provinces
Spain 2019: Exclusive models rankings for all 19 regions now available
Spain 2020: Dacia Sandero ends 12 consecutive years of Seat domination in market down -32.3%
Spain 2021: Seat Arona and Hyundai Tucson top market edging up 1%
Spain 2022: Toyota, Hyundai Tucson score first wins in weakest market in 9 years
This Post Has 10 Comments
I remember some controversy back in 1987: The Seat Ibiza was #1 when including the sales in the Canary Islands, which were considered at that time as export sales. Otherwise it would have been #2 behind the Opel Kadett. In 1988 both brands claimed their child had been the best seller in Spain, adding the typical * “Canary Islands included” or ** “Canary Islands excluded”
Very interesting! Thank you for this insight Javier.
When I was a teenager every year I passed my holidays in Spain, in Marbella near the sea with my parents. We had a flat there with sea view. I remembered the majority of cars passing: Fords Fiesta, Escort, Taunus, Granada, Seats 124, 127, 131, 132, Ibiza, Renaults 14, Super5, 11, 9… imported cars were quite expensive in the 80´s but I saw good ones like Jaguars, Porsches and Ferraris in that location.
Once as a kid i went on holidays in Spain and i remember seeing the Renault 7 for the first time and thinking: “What the hell…that Renault 5 has grown a hunchback!”
Kimmi – I had exactly the same experience!!! I couldn’t believe that there was a French car I didn’t know about and that wasn’t even sold in France! 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Matt
@matgasnier
Hey Matt, have you seen these figures of es.autoblog.com already? Spain, 1989 and in the comments also 1985: http://es.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/los-modelos-mas-vendidos-por-segmentos-en-espana-en-1989/
Hey Rutger,
No I hadn’t – love it! Will add it to here shortly.
Thanks for the tip!!
cheers
Matt
mmm I´ll try to find it. I had a lot of old car magazines, but I don´t know where, maybe lots of them are in trash now, some of them still in my room of my parents´house…
I f I find something i will tello you.
Well, don´t need to say i´m from Spain!
mmm I´m pretty sure that Seat ibiza was the leader of the market one of these years: 1996, 1997 or 1998.
And that´s because those years this car won the 2 litres world championship:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_del_Mundo_de_Rally_de_2_Litros
and in the advertisment of the model said: Seat ibiza: número 1 en ventas, número 1 en rallys.
(sales number 1, rallys number 1)
Hi Tiri,
Thanks very much for this! Would you have official data so i can amend my articles?
cheers
Matt