The VW Beetle was originally named KdF-Wagen * Many thanks to Florian for making this post possible! * The VW Beetle (Kaefer in German) was first called 'Type 1' and lead the models ranking during the second half of the forties, when production ramped up. Originally launched in 1938, the…
The Citroen 2CV is unveiled at the 1948 Paris Auto Show. * See the Top 24 brands production ranking and Top 10 brands sales ranking by clicking on the title * Finally a frank year of growth for the new car market in France: up 64% overall to 120.557 registrations,…
Renault Juvaquatre (pre-war model shown) * See the Top 24 best-selling models and Top 23 brands by clicking on the title! * In 1947 like in 1946, the large majority of vehicles produced in France were exported, as French consumers simply did not have the means (yet) to purchase a…
Ford V8 * See the Top 3 best-selling models by clicking on the title * This is the oldest available sales data for Australia. Just as World War 2 comes to an end, new cars are not easy - or cheap - to come by and most people are driving…
Renault launched the 4CV in 1946. * See the Top 23 All-French producers by clicking on the title! * 1946 is the year the French car industry slowly starts to get back in shape at 96,062 units produced vs. 34,625 in 1945. More significantly, whereas private cars were almost inexistent…
Renault AHN * See the Top 15 brands by clicking on the title! * With the end of World War II, the French vehicle production is starting to perk up again, up from a low of 10,000 in 1944 to 34,625 in 1945. However given by 1944 almost all vehicles…
Renault AHR During World War II, the new car market in France came to a standstill, and in any case sales were not reported so there is no trace of it now. The only available data is an estimation of vehicle production in the country during the period. France capitulated…
Peugeot 202 New data was made available by L'Argus covering the Model Year 1939, meaning the October 1938 - September 1939 period or just before the start of World War II. 169.726 new passenger cars and light commercials were registered over the period, with Citroen the best-selling brand with almost…
The Opel 1.2 Liter was the best-selling vehicle in Germany in the early 1930s. Thanks to one of our readers Jakub Gurba and the book "Deutsche Autos" by Werner Oswald, we can share with you today sales data by brand for Germany from 1931 to 1938. See all Historical Data…
The Peugeot 202 launches in 1938. After spending much of the thirties in muddied waters, the French new car market displays a very healthy 11% growth in 1938, passing the 200,000 sales milestone for the first time since 1930 at 205,677 units. This includes 181,637 new private cars (+11%), 22,551…
Skoda Popular "Monte Carlo" The Czech new car market is up 10.8% year-on-year in 1937 to 11,141 units. We have a big event in pole position: Skoda (+40.9%) dethrones Tatra (+3.9%) to take a clear lead of the charts with 34% share vs. 26.4% for Tatra. Praga (-3.1%) stays in…
The Renault Juvaquatre is launched in 1937 After surging by 17% in 1936, the French new vehicle market returns into negative 1937, mainly due to a wave of labour disputes, strikes, and worker unrest that spread throughout the French automobile industry and affected sales. The market as a whole is down…
Tatra T77 In 1935, the Czech new car market drops -5.2% to 8,436 units. After two years of domination by Praga (-13.8%), Tatra (+7.9%) reclaims the top spot in the brands ranking. Skoda (+14.3%) consolidates its third position with 19.8% share vs. 16.4% in 1934. Aero and Z exchange rankings…
Citroen Traction Avant After a few wobbly years affected by the Great Depression (no frank growth since 1930), the French new car market is in great shape in 1936 at +17% to 190,167 registrations, also the highest annual volume since 1930. This includes 168,429 private cars (+19%) and 21,738 trucks…
Citroen Traction Avant 1935 is the first year French newspaper L'Argus covers with detailed car sales statistics. It would keep on doing so every single year (except during World War II) up to this day. Unfortunately 1935 is not a great year for new car sales in France, with private…