The Skoda Felicia, actually an evolution of the 1987 Skoda Favorit, launches in October 1994 and replaces the Favorit atop the Czech Republic car sales for the next 3 years, reaching huge market shares, in all likeliness between 40% and 50%. More details about the Skoda Felicia here, more pictures: click…
Fiat Punto * See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! * After leading for 4 months in 1995-1996, the Fiat Punto finally makes its mark over the European car market and puts an end to 14 years of uninterrupted domination by the VW Golf. The Fiat…
Suzuki takes the lead of the Hungarian brands ranking for the first time in 1997. * See the Top 35 All-brands ranking by clicking on the title * The Hungarian new car market edges up 7.4% in 1997 to 79.827 registrations. Seven years after the establishment of its new plant in Esztergom…
The Ford Windstar leaps up onto the Canadian podium in 1997. Finally a very dynamic year for new light vehicle sales in Canada, up a whopping 18.6% in 1997 to 1.393.899 units. Ford (+16.2%) almost matches the market and remains above 20% share for the 2nd straight year at 20.1%,…
Although its production stopped in 1989 in the rest of the world, the Renault 9 survives in Turkey. In 1996, the Turkish new car market bounces back up 17.6% to 296,387 units. Big event atop the brands ranking: Renault (-1.5%) topples long term leader Tofas (-32.9%) to become the most…
Hyundai Accent * See the Top 7 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Erik and Bill * 162,030 new cars were sold in Greece in 1997, a healthy increase of 18% over 1996. The Hyundai Accent takes the lead of the models for the first time…
Renault 19 * See 'Read more' for the Top 10 best-selling models! Many thanks to Bruno for the data * While the Renault Megane has already replaced it in Europe, the Renault 19 manages to snap away from the VW Gol the title of best-selling car in Argentina in 1997…
Honda StepWGN * See the Top 30 best-selling models by clicking on the title! * 1997 is the 29th consecutive time the Toyota Corolla is the favourite model in Japan, with sales up 7% to 238,098. In second place the Nissan March is back up one spot and 9% year-on-year…
The Timor S515 lands directly in 8th place in Indonesia in 1996. After two consecutive record years, the Indonesian new car market drops -14.8% year-on-year in 1996 to 278.416 units. Both Toyota (-26.7%) and Suzuki (-19.2%) fall even faster and reduce their shares to 24.1% and 20.6% respectively. Mitsubishi (+1.8%)…
Toyota Camry * See the Top 30 best-selling models by clicking on 'Read more' at end of post! * This year the traditional leading pick ups take a breather: the Ford F-Series is down 4% at 750,000 sales and the Chevrolet C/K is down 2% at 515,000 units. 1997 is…
The Perodua Kancil is up to #2 in Malaysia in 1997. New car sales in Malaysia enjoy a 4th consecutive record year at 397.643 registrations, thanks to a 4th straight double-digit gain at +11.5%. Logically Proton (+11.8%) drives its home market with a stable 49.5% share, while other local Perodua…
Ford is back to #1 brand in Ireland in 1997. It's a second consecutive double-digit gain for the Irish new car market with sales up a whopping 18.7% in 1997 to 136.662 units. Even though it trails the market, Ford (+12.3%) reclaims the top spot while VW-Audi (+35.7%) leaps up…
The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling vehicle in Saudi Arabia in 1997. New light vehicle sales in Saudi Arabia remain at mediocre levels in 1997 at +1.2% to 66,382 units. For once Toyota (+9%) reverses its long term trend and actually gains market share YoY from 24% last year to…
Fiat Palio In 1997 the two best selling cars in Brazil reach levels they haven't managed to beat since. In spite of the strong competition coming from the Fiat Palio, the VW Gol increases its sales by 1% on 1996 at 361,402 units, its best ever year in Brazil. In…
The Dacia 1310 holds 67.3% of the Romanian market in 1997. New car sales in Romania mark a pause in 1997 at -1% year-on-year to 112.424 units. Local carmaker Dacia (+19.9%) tightens an already suffocating grip on its home market, improving by over 15 percentage points to hit a barely…