Australia: 1996-2009 Historical Data now available

2000 Holden Commodore. Picture by James Dobbin. All rights reserved.

After France, the second market I am adding some depth to is Australia. From 2004 to 2009, you will find the complete yearly Top 50 models ranking as well as every single monthly Top 20 for each year (that’s 72 consecutive Top 20’s… yes I have been hard at work!), the Top 35 for 2002 and 2003 and the best seller’s figures from 1996 to 2001.

The last 15 years in Australia have been dominated by the Holden Commodore, an impressive feat spanning 4 different generations of the model. Its volume, as well as its archenemy’s the Ford Falcon, have dropped over the period, giving room to smaller models like the Toyota Corolla, which nearly snapped the #1 spot in 2008. Utes (Australian for pick-ups), and particularly the Toyota Hilux, have also increased in popularity.

See below for all the direct links to the 9 available articles. Enjoy!

France: 2000-2009 Historical Data now available

Now that Best Selling Cars covers over 150 countries around the globe, I am adding a bit of depth to the site, showcasing some historical model sales data.

The first cab off the rank is France: yearly results from 2000 to 2009 are now available on here. Peugeot 206 then 207, three generations of Renault Clio, Scenic and Megane, the launches of the Renault Modus, Dacia Logan and Citroen C4 Picasso: it’s all in there and much more!

See below for the direct links to the 10 articles.

Canada 2004-2006: F Series, Civic and Caravan on podium

Ford F-Series

Honda Civic

Dodge Caravan

Canadian car sales are pretty stable over the years as the same three models consistently rank on the podium: the Ford F-Series, Honda Civic and Dodge Caravan.

The Ford F-Series is the best selling vehicle in Canada in 2004, 2005 and 2006, however its margin over the #2 reduces dramatically: from 8,231 sales over the Dodge Caravan in 2004 to 1,043 over the Honda Civic in 2005 and 2,100 over the same model in 2006.

Both the F-Series and Civic peak in 2006, respectively at 72,128 and 70,028 sales, whereas the Dodge Caravan, #2 in 2004 but #3 in 2005 and 2006, peaks at 65,002 units in 2005. There is a gap between the top 3 models and the 4th, a place occupied by the Toyota Corolla in 2004 and by the Mazda3 in 2005 and 2006.

Full Year 2004, 2005 and 2006 Top 50 Ranking Tables below.

Turkey 2004-2006: Renault places Megane and Clio Symbol on top

Renault has for a long time held a dominant position in Turkey, one of its main production hubs. The Renault Megane Sedan reigns over the Turkish market, stable at very high levels, ahead of the Renault Clio Symbol, and this for at least 3 consecutive years between 2004 and 2006.

Over the first 7 months of 2006, the Fiat Albea climbs on the 3rd step of the podium at over 10,000 sales, followed by the Hyundai Accent Era at close to 9,000. The Fiat Grande Punto is also pretty strong in 10th place.

Light Commercial Vehicles figures, although very rare to come across, are very interesting: over the first 5 months of 2006 the Fiat Doblo was actually the best selling vehicle in Turkey overall with 14,973 sales, ahead of the Ford Transit (12,031) and the Ford Transit Connect (12,031), all produced locally.

Full 10 months 2005 Top 50, 5 months 2006 Top 50, LCV 5 months 2006 Top 10 and 7 months 2005 Top 25: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Renault Clio Symbol

Fiat Albea in Istanbul, Turkey August 2006

Hyundai Accent Era in Istanbul, Turkey August 2006

Fiat Doblo

Finland 2004-2006: Toyota Corolla reigns

The Finnish car market is relatively stable over the period, going from 142,642 units in 2004 to 148,161 in 2005 and 145,700 in 2006. The Toyota Corolla is the best selling car in the country all these years, peaking at 6.6% share in 2004.

The Top 4 cars are the same over the period, just in a different order. The VW Golf is #2 in 2004 (5%) and 2006 (3.8%), the Ford Focus is #2 in 2005 (4.2%) and the Toyota Avensis is #3 in 2004 (3.9%). The Nissan Primera peaks at #5 in 2005 (3.4%) and stays in the Top 7 all the way. Good perf of the Skoda Octavia, going from #17 in 2004 to #5 in 2006.

Full 2004 Top 20, 2005 and 2006 Top 30 Ranking Tables: click on ‘Read more’ below the Primera pic.

Mexico 2004-2006: Nissan places Tsuru & Platina on top

Nissan Tsuru

Nissan Platina

Over the years 2005 and 2006, Nissan occupies the first two spots of the models ranking in Mexico: the Nissan Tsuru is the best selling car in the country over the period, peaking at nearly 6% in 2005, and the Nissan Platina, a rebadged Renault Symbol, is #2 without around 4% of the Mexican market. The VW Pointer, #2 in 2004, Jetta (#3 in 2004) and Chevrolet Corsa follow and round off the Top 5.

Full 2 months 2006, 9 months 2005 and 7 months 2004 Ranking Tables below.

Ireland 2000-2006: Ford Focus reigns

Launched in 1998, the Ford Focus established itself as the best-selling car in Ireland in 2000 and stayed on top for 6 consecutive years! Impressive success for a model that pushed design boundaries when it appeared on the car scene. Based on my observations during a trip to the country in 2001, the Nissan Almera should also rank quite high during the period.

Please do get in touch if you have detailed information about the Irish car market before 2006.

9 months 2006 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

Colombia 2002-2005: Chevrolet Corsa comfortable leader

From 2002 to 2005, the Chevrolet Corsa dominates the Colombian car market by a safe margin with 4,688 sales over 8 months 2002 and 13,029 sales (or 8.9% share) over the Full Year 2005. The #2 changes between those two dates: from Mazda Allegro in 2002 to Chevrolet Optra in 2005.

The following ranks are extremely stable however, all occupied by Renaults: the Twingo in #3, followed by the Symbol, Clio and Megane. Notice the arrival of the Renault Logan at #13 in 2005. 8 months 2002 Top 12 and Full Year 2005 Top 50 below.

Malaysia 2004-2005: Perodua Kancil takes the lead

Perodua Kancil

After years of domination of the Proton Wira, the Perodua Kancil, a rebadged Daihatsu Mira, takes the lead of car sales in Malaysia in 2004 and 2005. It sells 30,454 units over the first 6 months of 2005 or 11.7% of the market, ahead of the Proton Iswara (7.1%), Wira (6.8%) and Waja (6.7%).

Notice the Proton Gen-2, launched in Q3 2004 to partly replace the best-selling Wira, coming in at #7 with 14,153 sales and 5.4%. On top of the Kancil, Perodua places two more models in the Top 8: the Kelisa at #5 and the Kenari at #8. The Perodua Myvi (a rebadged Daihatsu Sirion) launched in May 2005 and in all likeliness managed to take the lead of the Malaysian market sometime during the second half of 2005.

More pictures and full 6 months 2005 Top 10 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Proton Gen-2

Argentina 2003-2005: VW Gol continues to dominate

The Argentinean car market was hit full frontal by the crisis in 2002, falling under 100,000 units. It recovers pretty swiftly over the next few years: up 48% in 2003 at 143,273 registrations, up 101% in 2004 at 288,527 units and up 34% in 2005 at 385,805 sales.

Throughout the period, the VW Gol continues to dominate the models ranking with a comfortable margin, going from 9.7% share in 2003, to 13.9% in 2004 and 11.3% in 2005. The Chevrolet Corsa, 5th in 2003 (5.5%), climbs up to #2 in 2004 (6.3%) and stays there in 2005 with a strong 7.3% share.

Great success also for the Peugeot 206, #2 in 2003 at 6.1% of the market and #3 in 2004 (5.4%) and 2005 (5.9%). The Renault Clio progresses throughout the period, going from 7th in 2003 to 5th in 2004 and 4th in 2005.

Full Year 2003, 2004 and 2005 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.