Bahrain 7 months 2020: Lexus up 12.9%, podium 100% Toyota in market down -22.4%

The Toyota Hilux climbs onto the Bahraini podium in 2020.

New car sales in Bahrain are off -22.4% year-on-year over the first 7 months of 2020 to 12.982 units. After Q1 sales edged up 1.3%, April imploded -56.6% to 922 vs. 2.127 in April 2019, May was down -48% from 2.883 to 1.499, June only dropped -11.9% from 2.572 to 2.265 but July was back down -36.1% to 1.660 vs. 2.598 in July 2019. Toyota (-18.9%) manages to lose less ground than the market, resulting in an improved 41.1% share vs. 39.3% over the same period in 2019. Lexus (+12.9%) is unfazed by the surrounding gloom and leapfrogs past Nissan (-38%) and Hyundai (-30.9%) to rank #2 with 8.9% share so far in 2020. Isuzu (+8.7%), Mitsubishi (+6.8%) and MG (+2.7%) also manage year-on-year upticks in the remainder of the Top 10 but Honda (-47%), Mazda (-42.1%) and Kia (-22.8%) freefall. Further down, Changan (+329.5%) posts a spectacular gain to soar to #12 overall vs. #25 a year ago, with Suzuki (+40.7%), Renault (+12.4%) and Lincoln (+6.7%) also in positive.

The Toyota Land Cruiser (-27%) remains the most popular vehicle in Bahrain with an overwhelming 11.1% share, and is now followed by the Toyota Prado (-16.2%) up one spot on a year ago and the Toyota Hilux (+8%) up 6 to #3, meaning the Bahrain podium is 100% Toyota for now. The Isuzu TF (aka D-Max) is up 8.4% and 6 spots to #4, as is the Lexus ES (+15.7%) to #5. The Lexus LX (+27.4%) scores the largest gain in the Top 10 at #10. The Nissan Patrol (+500%) is up 6-fold and 65 ranks to land at #17 thanks to the new generation. The MG5 (#27) is the best-selling recent launch in Bahrain, distancing the Kia Seltos (#32), Kia Pegas (#35), Changan Alsvin (#50), MG HS (#58), Chevrolet Captiva (#66), MG RX8 (#72) and Mazda CX-30 (#77).

Previous post: Bahrain Q1 2020: Lexus up 31% to #2 in stable market (+1.3%)

One year ago: Bahrain First Half 2019: Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Sunny survive in market down -14.3%

Full 7 months 2020 Top 35 All-brands and Top 50 models vs. Full 2019 figures below.