Europe: 1983-2010 Historical Data now available

1998 VW Golf

* 23 new posts have been uploaded – click on ‘Read more’ below for the direct links *

Historical info back to 1983 is now available for Europe! I have also added every Monthly Top 10 from 1996 to 1999 and from 2005 onwards, so you can see the complete evolution of the market over the years.

Out of the last 28 years, the VW Golf was the best selling car on the continent for no less than 24 years, with only four other cars holding the pole position at year-end: the Fiat Punto in 1997, Peugeot 206 in 2003, Opel Astra in 2006 and Peugeot 207 in 2007.

The Peugeot 206 was #1 in Europe in 2003

If you go into the detail of each month, then a few more cars managed to lead the European market for that amount of time: the Renault Megane, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Renault Clio and Opel Corsa all ranked #1 at some stage over the last 20 years.

Click on ‘Read more’ below for the direct links to these 23 new posts.

France March 2011: Citroen C3 and Dacia Duster beat records

Citroen C3

* See the Top 100 best selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at the end of the post *

As cash-for-clunkers orders had a March 31 delivery deadline, this is the final month of artificially boosted sales for the French market at +6% and 257,631 registrations. In March and possibly for the first time ever all cars are under 5% share, and the models ranking is very eventful:

Just below the Renault Clio, best seller for the 3rd month in a row, we find the Citroen C3 in 2nd position at 12,565 units and an outstanding 4.9% share. That’s three C3 nameplate records beaten all at once: best volume ever (beating 8,656 in Dec 2010), best position ever (beating #3 in Aug 2006) and best market share ever (beating 4.5% in May 2005).

The Peugeot 207 drops to 3rd at 4.7%, hurt by the exceptional performance of its older sister the Peugeot 206+, at its best position ever in 4th place with 3.5% share. The Renault Megane and Peugeot 308 follow.

Dacia Duster

For the first time, the Dacia Duster ranks in the Top 10 in France, at a remarkable 7th place with 6,634 sales and 2.6% share. All these figures are new records.

Citroen C4

The Citroen C4 new generation jumps into the Top 10 for the first time at #9 with 6,300 sales and 2.4%. Other good performers include the Nissan Micra at #32, the Chevrolet Spark at #33 and the Peugeot 508 at #35.

Full Top 100 Ranking Table below.

France February 2011: Clio leads again, C4 close to Top 10 Discover the Top 100 best selling models

Citroen C4

*Thanks to Enrique @ Autoblog for sharing the data! Click on ‘Read more’ below for the Top 100*

Still boosted by December 2010 orders being delivered now, the French car market is up 13% in February at a record-breaking 204,486 registrations. The Renault Clio is #1 for the second month in a row at 5.9% share, just ahead of the Peugeot 207 at 5.7%.

The Renault Twingo slows down but stays 3rd, followed by a very solid Citroen C3 at 3.7%. The Peugeot 206+ increases its share further to a best-ever 3.5%, and the Ford Fiesta is the best selling foreign model this month at #9, with the VW Polo at #10.

The new Citroen C4 continues its progression, now #11 at 4,704 sales and 2.3%, so does the Peugeot 508 at #37 with 1,673 units (0.8%). The Duster is now Dacia’s best seller at #16 and the new Nissan Micra is #42.

Full Top 100 Ranking Table below.

Malaysia January 2011: Proton Saga, Inspira shine

Proton Saga FL

Solid first month of the year in Malaysia at 53,114 registrations, and Proton is back in shape with the Saga (helped by the facelifted FL model) back in #2 7,128 sales and 13.4% share, only 48 units below the Perodua Myvi. The entire Top 9 is identical to the general 2010 ranking so no surprises there.

The new Proton Inspira (a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer) breaks into the Top 10 at its 3rd month of sales with 1,370 units changing hands in January for a 2.6% market share (#10).

Also to be noticed is the 11th place of the Nissan Teana, by far its best score in Malaysia, and the arrival of the Peugeot 207 Sedan (in fact a 206+), “the first Peugeot for ASEAN”, in the Top 30 with 298 sales.

Link to the January Top 50 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below.

You can also check out Malaysian Historical Data up to 2000 here (scroll down the page).

Proton Inspira

France January 2011: 206+ & new C4 shine, 508 & Latitude arrive Now with Top 100 best selling models

Peugeot 206+

*Thanks to Enrique at Autoblog Espanol for sharing the best-selling models by segment! Check out the Top 100 best selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ below*

The French car market is up 8% in January at 185,603 registrations, the result of orders made in December to benefit from the last day of scrappage schemes. The Renault Clio takes the lead just above 10,000 sales (5.4%) ahead of the Peugeot 207 at 5.1%, the Renault Twingo at 4.6% and the Citroen C3, strong again in 4th at 3.8%.

The Peugeot 206+ delivers the performance of the month with a best-ever 3.4% share and 5th position with 6,342 sales, an outstanding feat for what is after all a restyled 1998 model. The Citroen C4 II gains more ground at #13 with 4,016 sales (2.2%).

Two new French models appear in the Top 50 for the first time, albeit exclusively through dealership sales: the Peugeot 508 is 39th with 1,354 sales (0.7%) and the Renault Latitude is 49th with 971 sales (0.5%).

More commentaries and Top 100 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Peugeot 508

Argentina January 2011: 207 Compact #1 in record market

Peugeot 207 Compact

January is traditionally the strongest month of the year in Argentina but this year it reaches never-seen before levels: January 2011 will stay in Argentinean car history as the first month the market crossed the 100,000 sales mark, at 100,964 exactly.

Another first, the Peugeot 207 Compact leads the ranking for the first time with 4,653 units and 4.6% share, just ahead of the Chevrolet Classic at 4,608 sales. The Ford Ecosport is a strong #3 at 3.8%, followed by the Renault Sandero (3.4%).

The Toyota Hilux (#8) regains the advantage over the VW Amarok, in the Top 10 for the first time at #10 with 2,336 sales and 2.3%. Full Top 50 Ranking Table: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Ford Ecosport

Italy December 2010: Mini in Top 10, Punto #1 for 17th year

December car sales are down 22% in Italy at 131,202 units, bringing the 2010 total to 1,972,617, down 9% on 2009. The Fiat Punto is the best selling car in Italy for the 17th year in a row (the 1st gen Punto launched in Nov 93) with sales down 15% at 155,301 (7.9%).

The Top 6 is unchanged this year: the Fiat Panda is #2 for the 9th year in a row, down 19% at 7% share, ahead of the Ford Fiesta (-8% at 5%), Fiat 500 (-15% at 3.5%), VW Golf (-8% at 2.6%) and Opel Corsa (-2% at 2.6%). The VW Polo is up 69% and 12 spots in 7th and the Renault Clio is up 34% and 5 spots in 10th.

In December, the Mini breaks into the Top 10 for the first time since its reintroduction in 2001: it is 10th with 2,440 sales, the new Ford C-Max is #17 and the Fiat Doblo reaches its best at #21.

More commentaries, December and Full Year Top 50 below.

France LCV 2010: Renault Kangoo and Clio dominate

Renault Kangoo

The Light Commercial Vehicle market in France is up a very healthy 12% at 417,674 registrations in 2010. For the 13th consecutive year, the Renault Kangoo is the best selling light commercial vehicle in the country, this year with 36,680 sales and 8.8% market share.

The Renault Clio takes 2nd spot with 30,312 units and 7.3%, and the Citroen Berlingo rounds up the podium with 22,456 sales and 5.4%. The Fiat Ducato is the best selling foreign model in 4th at 21,782 units and 5.2% market share.

The three following models in the ranking all fit within 120 units: the Renault Master in #5 (21,301 sales), the Peugeot Partner at #6 (21,237) and the Peugeot 207/206+ at #7 (21,181).

Full Top 10 Ranking Table below.

France December 2010: Peugeot 207 #1 for 4th year in a row

The French market drops only 2% on a record 2009 year with 2,251,736 registrations, and the Peugeot 207 is the best selling car in France for the 4th year in a row with 126,854 sales (5.6% and -3%) ahead of the Renault Clio at 123,730 sales (5.5% and -2%). The 207 was #1 7 times this year, peaking at 6.9% in February vs. 5 times for the Clio and a peak of 6.6% in January.

The Renault Twingo is 3rd again with 92,185 sales (-14%), the Megane (79,511 sales, +1%) and Scenic (75,432, +0.5%) follow. 4th in December at 3.8%, its best share to date, the Citroen C3 II is 6th overall this year with 73,622 sales (3.3%).

The biggest event of the year however is undoubtedly the outstanding 2nd place achieved by the Dacia Sandero in March with 14,498 sales and 6% of the French market, only 163 sales below the 207 that month. The Sandero finished the year in 7th with with 68,016 sales (3% and +71%).

More commentaries, Top 6 December and Top 12 Full Year 2010 below (I will update as more figures come through).

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.