The Polo scores its first Top 10 finish just as Volkswagen is #1 for the first time in 30 years. * See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title * New car sales in Finland gain another 8.6% in 1997 to cross the 100.000…
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…
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%)…
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…
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…
The Maruti Zen post its first podium finish in India. * See the Top 14 All-brands and Top 35 All-models by clicking on the title * New vehicle sales in India edge up 5.5% year-on-year to break a new volume record at 586.349 units. Maruti (+11%) once again outpaces the…
The VW Santana 2000 is cannibalising Santana sales. The Chinese new vehicle market continues to slow down its growth in 1996 to just +5.4% year-on-year at 1,326,831 sales. The Top 5 most popular brands all outpace the market. Volkswagen (+26%) tightens its grip on the charts, leaving FAW Tianjin (+16.1%)…
The VW Beetle reclaims the Mexican top spot in Mexico one last time. After imploding -70.4% in 1995, the Mexican new car market bounces back up 75.9% in 1996 to 301.355 units. Nissan (+40%) holds onto the brands top spot for the 2nd straight year while Volkswagen (+62.4%) catches up…
Daewoo is the #3 brand in Hungary in 1996 * See the Top 35 All-brands ranking by clicking on the title * New car sales in Hungary rebound back up 9.5% in 1996 to 74.328 units. Opel signs a third consecutive year in pole position, outpacing the market at +14%…
The Dodge Caravan is up to #2 in Canada in 1996. New light vehicle sales in Canada edge up 1.5% year-on-year in 1996 to 1.175.761 units. Ford (+6.1%) once again outpaces the market to cross the 20% share milestone for the first time this decade at 20.5%, increasing the gap…
The Proton Wira is the best-selling vehicle in Malaysia for the third year in a row. It's a third consecutive double-digit gain for Malaysian new car sales up 27.3% in 1996 to a new record 357.178 units. Despite its size, local hero Proton (+25.2%) manages to almost match the market…