UK Vehicle Sales - Brand / 2016

UK car sales are nearly 2.7 million units and by adding commercial vehicle (CVs) registrations of just over 437,000 one comes to a grand total in excess of  3.1 million. Cars sales were up 2.3% and CVs 1.3%. In 2015, CVs grew much faster.

Obviously adding CV sales benefits some brands and not others. Ford goes from 11.8% to 16.3%, GM Vauxhall from 9.3% to 10.7%, VW 7.7% /  9.4%, Mercedes 6.3%

BMW Model Global Sales : 2016

BMW sales were up 5.2% in 2016, slightly down on global premium sales growth. Arch rival Mercedes Benz is on the offensive as are other competitors such as Jaguar / Land Rover. It is a lucrative area to be operating in and it will remain so. However, you would have to think that profit margins will ultimately be affected in that sector as the battle heats up.

In 2006, SUVs accounted for 16% of

Jaguar Global Sales (Nation) / 2016

For many years the USA was the destination for more Jaguar cars than anywhere else. Then the UK was for a while. In 2013, the USA took that position back for a year before China had its moment in the sun in 2014. The last two years the home market has held the top spot. Mind you the USA nearly eclipsed it in 2016 with an amazing 116% increase.

77% more sales meant that nearly every nation

Land Rover Global Sales (Nation) / 2016

Land Rover sales were up 7.8% in 2016. It was the fifth consecutive year that China was the largest market for the marque. The end of the Defender model did affect sales in some countries, France for one. Both Germany and Belgium's figures do not include commercial sales. Despite that they both managed increases but would be higher otherwise. Pakistan is for vehicles assembled there only.

Global Premium Comparison Wrap Up : 2010-16

It was a mammoth series and showed how far ahead the BAM brands are, if you didn't already know. Things are changing as things always do. Mercedes Benz passed the BMW brand (but not Group), the US trio (Cadillac, Lincoln and Tesla) all went well. JLR continued thier remarkable transformation.

So was there a star performance worth noting above all else? I pick Jaguar. A 77.1% increase is a

Global Premium Comparison (Brand) : 2010-16

The series on premium car sales by nation has been concluded. Now for the global overview. How has each company done in a total market that has grown 7.6%?

BAM Brands: BMW/Mini took a quarter of all sales, although a 5.3% increase in sales was below the 7.6% globally. Mini was up 6/4% against BMW's 5.2%. Mercedes-Benz sales were up a strong 11.3% and that pushed it just passed the BMW brand.

Korea Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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European Nation HEV Car Sales : 2016

Another sort of alternatively powered car is the full hybrid, that doesn't plug in but uses a motor to generate electricity. They are known as a  hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and they either recharge the batteries or to directly power the electric drive motors. I see these becoming redundant in the long term but in the meantime offering electric propulsion with a superior range. The cost of

China Car Sales - Brand / 2016

What can you say about the largest market in the work numerically that you can find no one publishing imported car sales by brand? All the figures below is for locally made only. For many brands it will only make a small difference, but for others really distorts the result. That is why I cannot get too excited about the Chinese car market. It's as if Asian nations don't like to be reminded

European Nation Electric Car Sales : 2016

The data here covers both electric only cars and those with some sort of range extender assistance. In all cases the car can be connected to an electric socket. In 2013, 203,800 such vehicles were sold in Europe where such data is supplied. In 2013 - the first year for data that I have - 33,600 were registered so things are moving.

Depending on how much assistance a government is giving

Japan Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Thai Vehicle Sales - Brand / 2016

When a market is protected by import duties, you either make them there or become a fringe player. A few brands dominate and the rest feed off the crumbs. That is the case with this market. The data below includes commercial vehicles but take them out and few car brands sell in sizable numbers.

The total was down 3.9% and if half it was five years ago. At least the losses are slowing to a

Singapore Car Sales - Brand / 2016

The system employed of issuing certificates for new cars creates unusual patterns of car buying. Ten years ago sales fell precipitously from 117,000 in 2006 to a low of 22,500 in 2013. They are now back on the rise, with 87,500 registrations in 2016. When will the crest of the wave be reached again before another fall? It all depends in how many certificates (COEs) are handed in as older cars

Turkey Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Europe Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Jaguar had a record year in Europe


Total sales passed 1.5 million for the first time since 2007, with another increase for the year (6.5%) In 2015 ,VW took the top spot (off Renault) and has led ever since. Despite its scandalous year, it still achieved a larger European market share in 2016 than it did in 2010. Renault is closing the gap but has some way to go.

The data below comes from two

Spain Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Europe: GM Wants Out

It seems getting out of Europe is the 'in thing'. The politics and trying to work with the system is a challenge. While pretending to be united, nations shamelessly pursue their vested interests. Governments meddle in business and that is considered a norm, so no embarrassment felt there. A pity they know little about business, but in fairness they are very astute getting votes and trying to

Malaysia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

In 20016 Perodua passed rival Proton to become the most popular brand and it has stayed there since. Then just this year Honda moved into second. Toyota could have also captitalised on Proton's slide but it had an even worse year.

2015 was a record breaker but 2016 could not live up to that and fell 13%. Many makes suffered reduced sales but some still managed to increase. Because it is total

Portugal Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Korea Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Total sales were 1,568,657, the same as 2015. Local makes increased slightly, despite Hyundai falling 14%. These figures exclude commercial vehicles, which most other statistics include. If they were added, then local market share would be higher.

Going back into the annals of time in Korea car sales, Kia was the top selling brand in 1975 for one year shortly after it started making Mazda

Italy Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Japan Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Back in the 1970's Toyota and Nissan had two thirds of Japanese sales between them. Toyota was never really threatened but it was a real tussle. Today Toyota stand alone at the top, although with slightly less share than it did back then. The other car makers have caught Nissan but no one thinks of rivaling the leader anymore.

In 2016, Mitsubishi disgraced itself with fuel consumption scandal

Europe East Car Sales - Nation / 2016

The odd nation is missing from this but most are there and the data is a fair reflection of the situation. In 2012 Russia had nearly three quarters of sales for this region but by 2016, it was just above the halfway mark. This has dragged the total down from about 4 million to less than 2.7 million. Although all nations bar one had increases, the one decrease ensured there was no growth.

The

France Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Slovakia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Four years of increases culminated in a 13.1% gain for 2016 and another record year. Neighbours the Czech Republic provide the best selling brand, however with a reduced market share. Most of the action came from marques just below the top ones, as they seemingly jostled to outdo each other.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a reduction in registrations, pale blue is increase but

Moldova Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales were up 18.3% in 2016, but that was the second lowest this decade. Apart from last year, you would have to go back to 2005 to see lower registrations. The numbers aren't big either but every market represents what people are buying in that region and for that reason it is always interesting to me.

Dacia took top spot in 2010 from Lada and has held it since. That brand is made next door

Europe West Car Sales - Nation / 2016

What was known as Western Europe back in the days of the Iron Curtain had a 5.9% increase. It was the best of sales since 2007 and up nearly 250,000 units from 2013. So what has changed this decade?

Germany had 22.4% in 2010 but 24.0% in 2016. The UK went from 15.6% to 19.3%. Italy 15.1% / 13.0% and France 17.3% / 14.4%. The UK's share has gone up by nearly a quarter so one should expect a

UK Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Hungary Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales were up a rollicking 25%, the best since - you guessed it - 2008. That was obviously a watershed year for Europe and the climb back is an arduous one. Opel took the lead in 2012 but relinquished it in 2016 to Suzuki, a local manufacturer.

Company fortunes can change quickly. Both PSA brands Peugeot and Citroën had steep loses in share while JLR duo Land Rover and Jaguar were the only

Bulgaria Car/LCV Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales here were up 4.4% in 2016, the best since 2008. Finding data is not easy for this nation and some of the smaller brands I have gaps in historical sales. Dacia won the year, but with a reduced margin. It's now been top since 2013. VW back in 2012 but finds itself ninth this year.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a reduction in registrations, pale blue is increase but lost

Switzerland Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Russia Car/LCV Sales - Brand / 2016

Things are challenging in Russia and car sales are reflecting that. Yet another decrease, albeit at a slower rate. Opel departed altogether and others will follow. In 2012 sales were nudging 3 million but are half of that in just four years. There is light at the end of the tunnel but what that light is no one is sure.

Lada increased its market share for the second year running after years of

Romania Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales leaped 17% in 2016 and past the 100k mark with ease. Sounds good but the numbers are still quite low compared to some years from last decade. The local car brand Dacia has done well nuder Renault ownership. It still commands over 30% of the sales, although that is down on the last three years. As for the rest, increases are aplenty.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a reduction

Sweden Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Estonia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

A series of increases in registrations now has sales here close to record numbers. Certainly the 23,000 cars finding homes in 2016 is along way from the dark days of 2010 when just 8,000 cars sold. Totoyta became the best selling brand in 2004 and has been top dog ever since, except for one slip up in 2011. Škoda has been shadowing the Big T but has been unable to break the stranglehold.

Czech Car/LCV Sales - Brand / 2016

Three years of increases has the Czech Republic in record territory regarding car sales. 2016's increase was a sizable 12.5%, coming on the back of a 20.7% rise the previous year. There is no prize for guessing local brand Škoda was the top ranked brand, taking 29.5% of the total. Mercedes shot into the top ten with haste and Audi was seemingly unaffected by any scandal.

In the chart below,

Norway Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Andorra Car Sales - Brand / 2016

The Principality of Andorra is a tiny land locked state in the Pyrenees mountains, between Spain and France. I have on occasion picked up snippets of sales data from here and found some for 2016. About 2,200 cars were sold here.



The leading brand was Mercedes Benz, then VW and BMW. The importers association known as AIVA Associació d'Importadors de Vehicles d'Andorra is hard to track down

Turkey Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales here were a record for 2016, in fact the last three years have been so. Each of then exceeded 700,000 and they are the only years that has been achieved. The source of the data below suggests 2017 will drop something like 10%. That will still be a good result. 2016 was up 4.3%.

Renault returned to the winner's circle, elbowing VW out of the way. Opel and Fiat moved up but are still a

Spain Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Four years of increases - some of them substantial - and sales are looking much better. A 10.8% climb was lower than the past couple of years but still rosy. In 2012, not even 700,000 registrations were achieved so 2016's 1,150,000 is about half way back to the best of times.

I don't know of any other country where the leading brand takes less than 8% of the total sales. Many brands get a

Slovenia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Registrations have now been up four years in a row and the total is the best since 2008. Renault was the top selling brand for so long but VW has taken that crown for the last three years. This is the lowest percentage share since at least 1993, where I run out of history.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a reduction in registrations, pale blue is increase but lost market share. Green

Netherlands Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Serbia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Car sales increased 25.5% in 2016, the second year of growth. Sales are still less than half of what they were a decades ago, but signs of improvement in that strong performance. Škoda is the top selling brand, but if the sales of Fiat and FAS (Fiat Auto Serbia), then Fiat is the bigger brand.

I find GAZ suddenly turning up and selling 782 vehicles confusing but it may have been a bulk order.

San Marino Car Sales - Brand / 2016

This tiny land locked republic within the borders of Italy. Car sales were up 1.2% or 19 sales. Total registrations are well down on what they were a decade ago, but it doesn't appear the economy is doing too badly. As could be expected, things bounce around in such a car market. A shift in sales of even a few units can make quite a difference. VW and Audi are the leaders with Fiat coming in

Germany Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Portugal Car/LCV Sales - Brand / 2016

Sales increased 15.7%, the fourth consecutive year to go in that direction and the best year since 2010.   Renault has been the best selling brand since 1998, surely one of the longer running #1's. It was also the most market share it has taken since 2005.

VW had a year to forget, despite a slight gain in sales. With Audi and Škoda not doing well either, maybe there were repercussions for its

Italy Car Sales - Brand / 2016

This was the third year in a row that sales increased (+15.8%) and the highest numerically since 2010. Was anyone surprised that Fiat was the leading brand? It gained in market share for the second year which is pleasing for the company and its legion of local fans.

VW grew slightly faster than the total sales but couldn't make up ground on the local hero. Renault did very well but Nissan had

Belgium Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Greece Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Greece's economic woes are well documented so to have a fourth consecutive increase in car sales is positive. It is still a long way from the halcyon times of a decade ago, but realistically they were never sustainable anyway.

Toyota took the top spot again with Nissan and Opel bumping VW into fourth place. Fiat, Mercedes and BMW all exceeded the increase by some margin. Many did well while

France Car Sales - Brand / 2016

A 5.1% increase made it the best year since 2011. It is a fairly average figure compared to the last couple of decades. The three main French brands tool 46.6% of the total, down slightly from 47.5% in 2015. Renault was up slightly for it share of the pie, whilst the PSA duo were both down. Nissan, DS and Mitsubishi had little to smile about, while Jaguar and Infiniti both put in a stellar

New NZ Electric / Hybrid Brand Sales : 2016

In 2015 81% of New Zealand's power came from renewable sources, the majority of that hydroelectric. Therefore the electricity is quite clean so an electric car is an environmentally sound choice. The problems are firstly the initial cost (as there are no purchase subsidies). An exemption from any road user tax has been put in place until electric (and I believe electric-hybrid too) reach 2% of

Croatia Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Three consecutive years of increase has led to the best sales for the decade, still short of the best years but now there is an upward trend. VW took the top spot in 2011 and still has it but lost some ground this year. The gap to Opel at second is still sizable though. Suzuki had a great year and got to easily its highest ranking ever. Peugeot in contrast has been slipping down a greasy pole

Austria Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Top 10 Models Europe : 2016

The GM Astra made a comeback with the new model


There isn't that much change for year to year for top selling models. Over the past twenty years to 2015, three models were in the Top 10 every year. Many others were there for the vast majority of them. However, one model dropped from the list for the first time over that period. Any idea which one?

As a clue, the two models that have been

Cyprus Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Three years of strong increases has improved sales but still well short of the best sales ten years ago. Nissan became the best selling brand in 2008 and have remained so except for a hiccup in 2014. Honda and Hyundai did well but both had poor a 2015. That seems a trend in Cyprus, with big shifts in fortune. One brand that seems to have the benefit of one mainly way shifts is Land Rover, now

RSA Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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UK Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Five years of consecutive increase and record sales. When is this market going to take a break? It's over achieving and surely 2017 will see some sort of retrenchment? No, not because of any political dramas, though surely they will be blamed if sales do fall in any way.

Ford have led since 1977 but it seems that another brand could take that one day. It's just hard to say which one could.

Israel Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Switzerland Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Total sales were nothing spectacular numerically speaking, a 2% drop in total sales made sure of that. Despite the muted result, it was not enough for VW to slip backwards so a slight improvement in market share. However, plenty of car makers did lose market share in a slightly depressed car market. Still, some brands did well such as Dacia, Honda, Jaguar and Infiniti..

In the chart below,

NZ Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Sweden Car Sales - Brand / 2016

A third straight year of increase including 2016's +7.9% puts Sweden into record sales territory. Volvo has been number one since 1958, when it passed GM's Opel brand. However, VW has been relentlessly closing the gap, unperturbed by scandal. It will only be a matter of time before VW takes over but as to when I wouldn't speculate.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a reduction in

Norway Car Sales - Brand / 2016

A series of increases through the decade has pushed passenger car sales into record territory. You don't have to be selling electric or hybrid cars to do well here, but it certainly helps. Volkswagen has been the leader since 2010 and doesn't look like losing it. BMW and Mercedes Benz both had good years, reaching their highest rankings ever.

In the chart below, pale yellow represents a

Australia Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Netherlands Car Sales - Brand / 2016

The Netherlands was one of the unusual nations in 2016 to record a decrease. Worse still, it was a -14.8% drop! That is over 66,500 less cars sold. Is it a case of the Dutch watching their debt levels? If so, well done. As for when it was lower, I had to go back to 1969.

VW took the top spot off Opel in 2005 and remained there since. The GM brand had a good year and is now third but some way

Mexico Premium Comparison : 2010-16

Premium cars are proving popular in many nations. They are often outselling cheaper mainstream brand while at the same time making more profit. More recently the most aggressive attack on this segment have been the BAM marques, BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz. However other car makers are striking back and the competition is heating up. So a look at sales in this decade would be interesting.

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Luxembourg Car/LCV Sales - Brand / 2016

Registrations were up 8.4% for the year which made it one of the best years ever. Sales don't move around too much here, despite the smallness of the market, so this increase was more than usual. Volkswagen took the top spot over from Renault way back in 2006 and have not relinquished it since. Between second and fifth Renault is sandwiched between the three German premium marques. Clearly the