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Finland October 2018: Toyota Yaris leads market still reeling from WLTP

The Toyota Yaris is the best-selling vehicle in Finland for the first time in almost 3 years.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

This is the first full month October update for a European Union country and it shows the follow-up effect of the pre-WLTP registration rush aren’t ironed out just yet: Finnish new car sales retract by a sizeable 9.7% year-on-year this month to 7.825 after losing 28.5% in September, yet the year-to-date tally remains in positive territory at +4.7% to 104.216. Overusers of pre-WTLP artificial registrations continue to be hit hard with Opel (-53%), Nissan (-50%), Audi (-41%), Volkswagen (-20%) and Renault (-19%) all in dire straits once again. Market leader Toyota (-4%) manages to contain its fall to gain market share year-on-year to 14.1% vs. 13.1% so far in 2018. Ignoring the overall gloom partly due to WLTP-ready line-ups are Subaru (+135%), Volvo (+37%), Honda (+25%), Mercedes (+19%) and Citroen (+18%). Model-wise, the Toyota Yaris (+25%) leaps up three spots on September to snap its first win since November 2015, distancing the Skoda Octavia (-23%) and Toyota Auris (-1%). The new generation boosts the Ford Focus up 101%, the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 15 below the VW Polo (+181%) also helped by a new model. The VW Tiguan (+100%), Citroen C3 (+85%), Toyota C-HR (+61%) and Volvo V60 (+59%) impress also.

Previous month: Finland September 2018: Volvo (+20%), Hyundai (+25%) resist in market down 28.5%

One year ago: Finland October 2017: Toyota and Skoda shine, Nissan Qashqai leads

Full October 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland September 2018: Volvo (+20%), Hyundai (+25%) resist in market down 28.5%

Volvo sales are up 20% year-on-year in Finland in September.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

After being artificially boosted up 25% in August by pre-WLTP registrations, like most European Union markets in September Finland falls back to reality, dropping an abysmal 28.5% to just 6.445 units but the year-to-date volume remains  in positive territory at +6.1% to 96.386. Toyota (-9%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-dat off Nissan (-52%) tumbling down to #8 while Volvo (+20%) is up 5 spots on August to #2 and Hyundai (+25%) up one to #9, scoring the two biggest -but also only two – year-on-year gains in the Top 15. Further down, notice Jaguar (+200%), Citroen (+33%), Mini (+29%), Subaru (+13%), Peugeot (+4%) and Honda (+3%) braving the adverse conditions with gains whereas Renault (-70%), Dacia (-58%), Audi (-56%), Opel (-54%) and Volkswagen (-54%) are hit the hardest. The Skoda Octavia (-18%) is the best-selling nameplate in Finland this month despite a double-digit gain, distancing the Toyota Auris (-1%) and Nissan Qashqai (-51%) which keeps by far the #1 spot YTD. There are quite a few great performers in the Top 10, starting with the Kia Cee’d (+69%), Hyundai i20 (+33%), Volvo V40 (+11%), Toyota C-HR (+5%) and Avensis (+2%).

Previous month: Finland August 2018: Non WLTP-compliant sales boost Qashqai up to 12.5% share

One year ago: Finland September 2017: Nissan Qashqai best-seller in market down 6%

Full September 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland August 2018: Non WLTP-compliant sales boost Qashqai to 12.5%

90% of Nissan sales in Finland in August go to the Qashqai.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

In Norway too, August new car sales are significantly impacted by stock clearances of non-compliant vehicles ahead of the implementation of a new Europe-wide emissions test standard called WLTP. Registrations are up 24.6% year-on-year to 11.904 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 9.8% to 89.936. Not all carmakers have played the system equally, and in Finland it’s Nissan (+225%) that has been the most blatant this month, artificially snapping the lead of the brands ranking with 13.9% share vs. 6.9% so far in 2018. In fact a whopping 90% of Nissan August sales in Finland are the Qashqai (+301%) up 4-fold to snap an extravagant – albeit completely artificial – 12.5% share vs. 5.3% YTD but the real world impact this performance has is that the Qashqai is now Finland’s best-seller in 2018.

Toyota (+0.5%), Volkswagen (+13%), Skoda (+3%), Opel (+13%) and Ford (+11%) follow and are not affected with Volvo (+36%) posting a solid gain most likely due to gearing up of the XC40 rather than pre-WLTP sales. Subaru (+374%), Porsche (+354%), Hyundai (+110%), Fiat (+100%), Mazda (+68%) and Seat (+41%) all make sure to clear non-compliant stock whereas the strong uplifts at Citroen (+82%), Suzuki (+60%) and Dacia (+48%) seem more natural because in line with the carmakers’ behaviour so far this year. The Hyundai i30 (+371%), Ford Fiesta (+267%), VW Polo (+50%), Opel Astra (+37%), Volvo V40 (+36%), Toyota Auris (+35%) and Toyota C-HR (+34%) post the largest gains in the Top 30 while the VW T-Roc (#15) tops recent launches just above the Opel Grandland X (#16) making its first entrance in the Finnish Top 20.

Previous month: Finland July 2018: Nissan Qashqai leads, VW T-Roc up to #14

One year ago: Finland August 2017: Toyota and Kia impress in market up 4.8%

Full August 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland July 2018: Nissan Qashqai leads, VW T-Roc up to #14

The Nissan Qashqai is the best-selling nameplate in Finland in July.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland gain 8.4% year-on-year in July to 9.445 registrations, in line with the +7.9% it commands year-to-date at 78.025 units. The entire brands podium outpaces the market this month with Toyota (+12%), Volkswagen (+21%) and Skoda (+13%) in the lead, replicating the YTD and FY2017 order. Nissan (+60%) and BMW (+38%) post the largest gain inside the Top 10 while outside, Subaru (+110%), Suzuki (+73%), Citroen (+61%), Mini (+52%), Fiat (+41%), and Peugeot (+21%) make themselves noticed. Model-wise, the Nissan Qashqai (+89%) is the best-seller this month, easily distancing the Skoda Octavia (-5%) and Toyota Yaris (+18%) while the VW Polo (+109%), Toyota C-HR (+64%), Ford Fiesta (+42%), Skoda Kodiaq (+40%) and Kia Cee’d (+30%) post the most impressive gains in the Top 30. The VW T-Roc soars to #14 in July and breaks into the YTD Top 30 at #29

Previous month: Finland June 2018: Nissan (+39%), Hyundai (+114%) pull market up 6.7%

One year ago: Finland July 2017: Skoda Octavia leads, Toyota up 55%

Full July 2018 Top 30 brands and models ranking below.

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Finland June 2018: Nissan (+39%), Hyundai (+114%) pull market up 6.7%

The Micra (+120%) and Qashqai (+39%) help Nissan up 39% in Finland in June.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

The Finnish new car market gains a solid 6.7% year-on-year in June to 11.374 registrations, lifting the year-to-date volume up 7.8% to 68.573. Volkswagen (-3%) edges past Toyota (-5%) for just 16 units with Skoda (-3%) the third manufacturer above 10% share for the month. Ford (-1%) pulls the entire Top 4 into negative territory, while Nissan (+39%), Opel (+17%) and BMW (+14%) post the largest improvements in the Top 10. Below, Hyundai (+114%), Peugeot (+97%), Honda (+81%), Dacia (+79%), Lexus (+76%), Citroen (+74%), Seat (+74%), Mitsubishi (+67%) and Subaru (+64%) all score spectacular gains within the Top 25. Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (-13%) and Nissan Qashqai (+39%) reclaim the Top 2 spots they hold YTD with the May leader the VW Golf (-1%) back down to #3. Toyota complete the Top 5 with the Auris (-11%) and Yaris (+32%). The Citroen C3 (+182%), Hyundai i30 (+140%), Nissan Micra (+120%), Toyota RAV4 (+48%),  Mercedes GLC (+47%) and Hyundai i20 (+43%) also impress in the Top 30.

Previous month: Finland May 2018: VW Golf best-seller for 1st time in 19 months

One year ago: Finland June 2017: Skoda Octavia leads, Toyota Auris up to #2

Full June 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland May 2018: VW Golf best-seller for first time in 19 months

The VW Golf is the best-seller in Finland for only the third time in 3 years.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland surge 13.1% year-on-year in May to 12.261 registrations, leading to a year-to-date volume up a robust 8% to 57.195 units. In the brands ranking, Toyota (+16%) holds onto the top spot by the smallest of margins: 1 sale above Volkswagen (+18%) while Skoda (+10%) reclaims the #3 spot it holds YTD off Ford (+24%). Opel (+40%) posts the largest gain in the Top 10 but all other brands underperform except Volvo (+13%) matching the market. Further down, Citroen (+149%), Subaru (+123%), Peugeot (+106%), Honda (+79%), Lexus (+70%), Hyundai (+50%), Jaguar (+39%), Alfa Romeo (+38%), Dacia (+38%), Fiat (+35%) and Seat (+23%) all impress whereas Mini (-54%), BMW (-33%), Tesla (-33%), Renault (-20%) and Mazda (-16%) struggle.

Model-wise, the VW Golf lurches up 8 spots on April and 19% year-on-year to snap the pole position for the first time since October 2016 and only the third time in the past 3 years along with June 2015. It still ranks at a lowly #5 year-to-date vs. #3 in FY2017. The Skoda Octavia (-2%) is knocked down to #2 with the Toyota Auris (+21%) and Ford Fiesta (+95%) breathing on its neck and both posting very solid gains. Other great performers include the Citroen C3 (+300%), Nissan Micra (+195%), Volvo XC60 (+137%), Mercedes GLC (+119%), Opel Insignia (+107%), Hyundai i20 (+108%), Skoda Kodiaq (+84%), Toyota RAV4 (+75%), Ford Focus (+36%) and Toyota C-HR (+36%).

Previous post: Finland: 1956-2017 Historical Data now available

Previous month: Finland April 2018: Ford and Skoda impress in market up 17.5%

One year ago: Finland May 2017: Volvo up 48% in market up 4.8%

Full May 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland: 1956-2017 Historical Data now available

The Lada 1200 is the best-selling vehicle in Finland in 1974, only 3 years after Lada’s arrival.

* See the 38 Finland Historical posts at the end of the article *

Thanks to Vesa Leinonen we have doubled our coverage of the Finland market with 20 additional articles now spanning over 60 years to go back to 1956. All-brands rankings are available from 1956 onwards and Top 50 models from 1970. Due to rationing restrictions in the aftermath of World War II, the Finnish market’s early influences were markedly Soviet and Eastern European, with Russian brand Moskvitsh simply topping the overall brands ranking in 1956, 1957 and from 1959 to 1962, making Finland one of the few Western countries where the brand was imported, let alone was the best-seller. Meanwhile Pobeda ranked #2 in 1956, Wartburg ranked 5th from 1960 to 1962 and Volga peaked at #7 in 1958.

Moskvitsh is the best-selling brand in Finland in 1956, 1957 and from 1959 to 1962.

1971 sees the arrival of Lada, rapidly climbing the ladder to become an immediate blockbuster. Its unique model at the time, the Lada 1200 climbs on the annual podium for its first full year of sales in 1972 and takes the overall lead in 1974, the start of an implacable domination over the following decade. The Lada 1200-2107 ends up as Finland’s best-seller for 10 out of 11 years from 1974 to 1984 (only exception in 1980). It remained on the annual podium until 1991 and inside the Top 10 until 1993. The Lada Samara was also an instant hit at #7 in 1987 for its first full year in market, then peaking at #6 in 1989.

There was also a distinctive Italian accent to the Finnish market in the seventies, with Fiat becoming the best-selling carmaker in the country in 1971, 1972 and 1974 and the Fiat 600 best-selling model in 1971.

The Corolla, best-seller in Finland in 1973, pushes Toyota to its first #1 that year.The Cherry helps Datsun to its first-ever annual win in Finland in 1979.

Finland is also one of the first successful forays into European markets for Japanese manufacturers. Datsun is the first to arrive in 1962, followed by Toyota and Suzuki in 1963, Isuzu in 1964, Honda in 1965, Mazda in 1966, Daihatsu in 1968, Mitsubishi in 1970 and Suzuki and Subaru in 1982. Datsun is the first Japanese brand to break into the annual Finnish Top 10, ranking #6 in 1965, the same year both Toyota and Isuzu break into the Top 20 for the first time. In 1966, Toyota (#7) joins Datsun (#6) in the Top 10 and in 1967 Toyota becomes the first Japanese marque to break into the annual Top 5. It then lands on podium for the first time in 1970 at #3, goes on to place #2 in 1971 and historically takes the overall brands lead in 1973 (with the Corolla #1 model that same year), only 10 years after first landing in the country.

Datsun climbs onto the podium for the first time in 1975 and manages its first annual win in 1979, then holds onto the title of best-selling brand in Finland for 6 consecutive years until 1985 when Toyota reclaims command. In 1980, Datsun is #1 and Toyota #2, making it two Japanese brands in the annual Top 2 for the first time. This feat would repeat in 1983 and 1984 when Datsun is renamed Nissan, then from 1985 to 1988 and in 1991 with Toyota above Nissan. With Mazda up to #6 in 1983, there are three Japanese brands in the Finnish Top 6 for the first time. It would remain so for five consecutive years until 1987, then again in 1990 and 1991.

The Toyota Corolla is #1 in Finland without interruption between 1985 and 1993…

… and then from 2002 to 2007. 

In the eighties, Japanese nameplates invade the Finnish models ranking also: in 1982, there are four Japanese nameplates in the Top 6: the Datsun Cherry (#2), Toyota Corolla (#4), Mazda 323 (#5) and Datsun Sunny (#6). In 1983 the Japanese do one better, placing four nameplates in the Top 5: the Nissan Sunny (#2), Toyota Corolla (#3), Nissan Cherry (#4) and Mazda 323 (#5). Then in 1984 it’s five in the Top 7: Sunny (#2), Corolla (#3), 323 (#5), Cherry (#6) and Mazda 626 (#7). In 1987 and 1988 the Top 2 best-sellers are Japanese: Corolla and Sunny, this would repeat in 1991. Finally 1991 is the last year 4 Japanese nameplates manage to rank inside the annual Top 5: Corolla (#1), Sunny (#2), Carina (#4) and Primera (#5).

Korean carmakers took a lot longer to impress the Finnish: after landing in 1986 with just one sale, Hyundai ranks #27 in 1990 and #18 in 1992 but is back down to 0.1% share in 1998 and zero sales in 1999. The Hyundai Pony is the first Korean nameplate to break into the Finnish Top 50 (#46) in 1991, repeating this feat each year until 1994.

The Opel Astra is #1 from 1994 to 1996 and 1999 to 2001.

The VW Golf has to wait until 1994 to score its first podium and 2008 for its first win.

From 1985 onwards and for over two decades the title of most popular model in Finland is a fight between the Toyota Corolla, #1 in from 1985 to 1993, 1997, 1998 and from 2002 to 2007, and the Opel Astra, leader from 1994 to 1996 and from 1999 to 2001. Used to the top spots nowadays, the VW Golf however did take a very long time to convince Finnish customers: launched in 1974, it had to wait until 1987 to finally break into the annual Top 10, and 1994 to leap onto its first podium. It snaps its first crown in 2008 and holds onto it for 3 years before passing it on to the Skoda Octavia in 2011. In 2012 the Nissan Qashqai takes the lead for the first time before returning its throne back to the VW Golf in 2013 with the Skoda Octavia reclaiming the pole position from 2014 onwards.

The links to all 1956-2017 Finland Historical Data articles are below.

Finland 1956: Russian Moskvitsh and Pobeda dominate

Finland 1957: Moskvitsh and Skoda add up to 49.9% share

Finland 1958: Volkswagen interrupts Moskvitsh reign

Finland 1959-1962: Moskvitsh reigns, Skoda and Volkswagen follow

Finland 1963-1964: Ford, Volkswagen and Fiat on top

Finland 1965-1967: Volkswagen best-seller, Datsun and Toyota in Top 10

Finland 1968-1969: Ford reclaims lead, VW, Fiat and Toyota follow

Finland 1970: Ford Cortina best-seller above VW Beetle and Fiat 600

Finland 1971: Fiat 600 and Toyota Corolla on top, Moskvitsh Elite #5

Finland 1972: VW Beetle best-seller, Lada 1200 on podium

Finland 1973: Toyota and Corolla triumph

Finland 1974: Lada 1200 new best-seller

Finland 1975-1978: Saab #1 for the fist time, Lada 1200 most popular

Finland 1979: Datsun most popular marque for the first time

Finland 1980: Datsun and Cherry best-sellers

Finland 1981-1982: Lada 2105 takes control, Datsun #1 brand

Finland 1983-1984: Datsun, now Nissan stays #1, Toyota #2

Finland 1985-1988: Toyota and Nissan on top, Corolla best-seller

Finland 1989-1990: Toyota and Opel dominate, Corolla #1

Finland 1991: Toyota and Nissan top weakest market since 1979

Finland 1992-1993: Corolla and Astra lead weakest market in 25 years

Finland 1994-1996: Opel and Astra take control

Finland 1997: Volkswagen best-seller for 1st time in 30 years, Corolla #1

Finland 1998: Opel reclaims lead, Toyota Corolla #1, Avensis #3

Finland 1999-2000: Opel Astra and Ford Focus on top

Finland 2001: Opel Astra best-seller

Finland 2002-2003: Toyota Corolla reclaims leadership

Finland 2004-2006: Toyota Corolla reigns

Finland 2007: Toyota Corolla resists, Skoda Octavia up to #2

Finland 2008-2009: VW Golf takes command

Finland 2010: VW Golf best-seller, Opel Astra up 166%

Finland 2011: Skoda Octavia new best-seller

Finland 2012: Nissan Qashqai #1 for the first time

Finland 2013: VW Golf back in charge

Finland 2014: Skoda Octavia overtakes VW Golf to pole position

Finland 2015: Skoda Octavia remains #1, VW Golf down 27%

Finland 2016: Skoda Octavia on top, Opel Astra up 180%

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

Finland April 2018: Ford and Skoda impress in market up 17.5%

Ford Fiesta sales are up 51% year-on-year in April in Finland.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

Finnish new car sales are up 17.5% year-on-year in April to 10.877 units, lifting the year-to-date total up 6.7% to 44.931. Both Toyota (+16%) and Volkswagen (+17%) follow the market to top the brands ranking as they also do YTD, with Ford (+38%) and Skoda (+28%) catching up fast. The rest of the Top 10 is surprisingly tame, with just Nissan (+29%) outpacing the market and both Volvo (-3%) and Kia (-6%) ending the month in negative. Further down, let’s salute Porsche (+833%), Citroen (+161%), Hyundai (+141%) and Mini (+108%) all posting extravagant gains while Suzuki (+76%), Dacia (+75%), Seat (+57%), Jaguar (+53%) and Honda (+51%) also impress.

First Top 20 ranking in Finland for the Citroen C3.

Model-wise, the podium is unchanged on March and YTD and fits within 15 sales: the Skoda Octavia retains the lead despite losing 6% year-on-year while the Nissan Qashqai (+19%) and Toyota Yaris (+53%) are equal #2. Below, the Toyota Auris (+65%), Volvo XC60 (+145%), Ford Fiesta (+51%), Focus (+75%) and VW Polo (+50%) all post mammoth gains. At #13, the Citroen C3 makes its first appearance in the Finnish Top 20 this decade according to BSCB records and now ranks #20 YTD vs. #60 over FY2017. The Hyundai i30 (+288%), Nissan Micra (+255%), Skoda Kodiaq (+237%), Skoda Fabia (+84%), Hyundai i20 (+73%), Opel Insignia (+73%) and Mercedes GLC (+59%) post the largest increases in the remainder of the Top 30.

Previous month: Finland March 2018: Skoda up to #2 in market up 4.4%

One year ago: Finland April 2017: Volvo V90 on podium, Toyota C-HR in Top 10

Full April 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland March 2018: Skoda up to #2 in market up 4.4%

The Kodiaq is one of four Skodas in the Finnish Top 20 so far this year.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

New car sales in Finland are back into positive territory in March at +4.4% to 11.597 units, leading to a year-to-date volume up 3.7% to 34.052 registrations. Toyota continues to dominate the Finnish brands ranking but drops 6% year-on-year to 11.9% while Skoda soars 34% to overtake Volkswagen (incidentally, also up 34%) to leap up to 2nd place at 11.4% share vs. 11%. Ford (+17%) remains in 4th place while Nissan nudges up two spots on February but falls a harsh 17%. No other carmaker posts a year-on-year increase in the Top 10. Outside, Mini (+89%), Suzuki (+72%), Seat (+60%), Peugeot (+43%), Land Rover (+42%), Hyundai (+38%), Tesla (+38%), Dacia (+27%), Porsche (+25%) and Citroen (+24%) all lodge very impressive progressions.

Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date thanks to sales up 29% whereas the February leader, the Nissan Qashqai, sinks 20%. The Toyota Yaris (+80%), VW Golf (+165%) and Ford Fiesta (+80%) round up the Top 5, all posting spectacular gains. The VW Polo (+26%) and Skoda Fabia (+32%) also impress in the Top 10. Further down, the Skoda Kodiaq (+284%), Volvo V40 (+91%), Mercedes GLC (up to #21 vs. #41 in FY2017) and Opel Insignia (+111%) make themselves noticed.

Previous month: Finland February 2018: Qashqai leads, Fiesta, XC60 and Polo shine

One year ago: Finland March 2017: Nissan Qashqai up 41% to snap top spot

Full March 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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Finland February 2018: Qashqai leads, Fiesta, XC60 and Polo shine

The VW Polo is propelled up 212% this month by its new generation.

* See the Top 30 best-selling brands and models by clicking on the title *

The Finnish new car market slows down 1.2% year-on-year in February to 8.976 registrations, however the year-to-date tally remains in positive at +3.3% to 22.451 units. Toyota (-7%) holds onto the brands leadership wth a strong 14% share, well ahead of Volkswagen (+9%) back to #2 at 11.3% of the market. Skoda dives 25% to 9% at #3, ahead of Ford (+10%), Volvo (-6%) and Opel (+8%). Land Rover (+133%), Hyundai (+108%), Porsche (+89%), Citroen (+73%), Suzuki (+58%), Mini (+38%), Peugeot (+38%), Seat (+23%), Fiat (+22%), Nissan (+19%) and Subaru (+19%) also shine. Model-wise, the Nissan Qashqai takes the lead for the 4th time in the past 6 months despite dropping 1% to 4.2% share. It is followed by the Skoda Octavia (-39%) and Toyota Yaris (+7%) while the Ford Fiesta up 144% to #4, the Volvo XC60 up 125% to #7 and the VW Polo up 212% to #10 make sparks in the Top 10. Below, the Hyundai i20 is up 18 spots on January and 175% year-on-year to #11, the Toyota C-HR is up 47% to #13, the Nissan Micra up 555% to #17, the Skoda Kodiaq up 2320% to #20, the BMW 5 Series up 79% to #24, Opel Insignia up 96% to #25 and the Hyundai i30 up 90% to #29.

Previous month: Finland January 2018: Toyota soars 29% in market up 6.5%

One year ago: Finland February 2018: Toyota reigns supreme, Volvo V90 in Top 10

Full February 2018 Top 30 brands and models below.

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