Vietnam 2010: Toyota Innova and Fortuner fight it out

Toyota Innova in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 2011

The Vietnamese car market is down 26% in December at 11,198 registrations, bringing the 2010 figure to 112,224, down 6%. The Toyota Innova keeps the title of best selling car in Vietnam in 2010 with 7,419 sales and 6.6%. The Toyota Fortuner, #2 at 6,551 sales and 5.8%, is getting closer every month: only 19 sales separated the two models in December.

Two more Toyotas follow: the Corolla at 5.4% (6.3% in December thanks to the restyled version) and the Vios at 5.2%. The Daewoo Lacetti (aka Chevrolet Cruze) reaches #5 in 2010 with 3.8% of the market, ahead of the Kia Morning (Picanto) at 2.9% and the Daewoo Matiz (aka Chevrolet Spark) at 2.6%. The new Kia Forte is also very successful in Vietnam: #14 in 2010, it is already #8 in December with a very solid 3.3% share.

Full Photo Report, Top10 in pictures, Dec & Full Year 2010 Top 20: click on ‘Read more’ below.

Toyota Fortuner in Hanoi, Vietnam, December 2010

Benin 2010: Hilux and Prado most popular

Toyota Prado in Cotonou, Benin 2010

Relatively developed market in Benin with the Toyota Hilux and Prado in all likeliness dominating the new car sales. Other successful models include the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Yaris, Mitsubishi L200 and, interestingly, the Lifan 520.

The general car landscape is very different however, with lots of Peugeots everywhere, Benin even being the reference when it comes to 1960 Peugeot 404 pick-ups, still the most common truck in the country, especially in the rural North, as shown on this interesting site. Other common models are the 1968 Peugeot 504, 1979 Peugeot 505 and 2001 Peugeot 307. Only the first gen 1994 Toyota RAV4 competes.

More street scenes and street videos with Beninese rap music below.

Ethiopia 2010: Hilux and Corolla most popular

Holland Car Awash Executive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia September 2010

In the busy streets of Addis Ababa, the Toyota Hilux, Corolla, Hiace, Land Cruiser and 2003 Hyundai Atos are the most popular new cars, with the Suzuki Vitara, Chery QQ and Mitsubishi L200 also worth mentioning.

Holland Car, the first Ethiopian car assembler, is starting to get noticed in the crazy Addis traffic with the Abay (a Lifan 520). However the cooperation with Lifan has been replaced with JAC in 2009, with the launches of the Tekeze (JAC Tojoy hb), Abay Executive (JAC Tojoy sedan), Awash Executive (JAC B-Class) and Shebele (JAC B-Cross).

More information about Holland Cars and Addis Ababa street scenes below.