17 November 2011

Car Sales In Sweden From 1950 Forward


The car market in 1950 was very different from today. WW 2 had devastated Europe, although neutral Sweden didn't feel it the same way. What was then Nuffield (mainly Morris) had 6.8% of the Swedish market in 1950 and Austin had 6%.


Standard/Triumph had 5.3%, Rootes (Hillman, Humber etc) had 3%, a German car brand Minor? (can anyone help with that one?) had 1.8%, Jowett 1.1% and Borgward 1.0%. All those names are consigned to history but were strong sellers in Sweden back in 1950.

As for the big guns, their their rank in the Swedish market and sales for that selected year is below. A big thanks to bilsweden:

Year Volv
VW
Ford
Saab
1950 3 7,400 2 8,250 1 10,100 15 950
1960 1 25,000 2 30,800 4 16,400 5 13,750
1970 1 53,850 4 20,675 5 14,550 2 34,750
1980 1 50,550 3 18,700 5 16,900 2 27,600
1990 1 47,600 5 17,550 2 23,400 3 19,550
2000 1 54,900 3 30,550 4 18,100 2 27,100
2010 1 53,700 2 35,700 4 17,850 13 8,675

Toyota, an unknown brand of 1950, was 3rd in 2010 with 21,600 sales. The Fords of 1950 were 70% sourced from the UK, and as you can see the top selling brand back then. Volvo soon took that spot and has held it for decades now.

The world car industry was so different then. Popular car makes have gone and small or yet to exist makes are now successful. Change is gradual, so scarcely noticed. However, when taking a leap back in time, we realise that things are always changing - and quite radically in some ways.


Jowett pic: http://www.cartype.com/pages/2400/jowett_brochures

No comments:

Post a Comment