Greece 1992 / 2012 Comparison

We all know about the economic woes of Europe, especially countries such as Greece. So how do car sales compare with today and twenty years ago? Let's find out.

Below is a chart of sales for 1992 and 2012 (the 2012 figures are only nine months). Despite that, the trend is clear. There is the rank brands have in the Greek market, brand and sales, finally market share:

		1992					2012
Rk	Brand	Sales	Sh		Rk	Brand	Sales	Sh
1	Nissan	18,107	9.1%		1	Opel	5,443	12.0%
2	Fiat	16,979	8.5%		2	VW	4,468	9.8%
3	Toyota	15,951	8.0%		3	Toyota	4,445	9.8%
4	Opel	12,308	6.2%		4	Citroen	3,149	6.9%
5	Citroen	11,556	5.8%		5	Fiat	2,602	5.7%
6	Ford	11,201	5.6%		6	Ford	2,505	5.5%
7	Peugeot	10,808	5.4%		7	Nissan	2,502	5.5%
8	Renault	10,158	5.1%		8	Skoda	2,155	4.7%
9	Hyundai	9,844	4.9%		9	Hyundai	2,144	4.7%
10	BMW	8,711	4.4%		10	Suzuki	1,929	4.2%
11	VW	7,486	3.8%		11	Peugeot	1,924	4.2%
12	Mazda	7,456	3.7%		12	Audi	1,476	3.2%
13	Seat	7,295	3.7%		13	Kia	1,241	2.7%
14	Alfa Romeo	6,568	3.3%		14	Seat	1,013	2.2%
15	Suzuki	6,466	3.2%		15	Volvo	988	2.2%
16	Austin/Rover	5,961	3.0%		16	BMW	964	2.1%
17	Lada	5,871	3.0%		17	Mercedes	874	1.9%
18	Skoda	5,647	2.8%		18	Renault	809	1.8%
19	Honda	5,103	2.6%		19	Chevrolet	804	1.8%
20	Mercedes	3,590	1.8%		20	Alfa Romeo	683	1.5%
21	Audi	3,006	1.5%		21	Lancia	647	1.4%
22	Lancia	2,913	1.5%		22	Honda	531	1.2%
23	Mitsubishi	1,722	0.9%		23	Mitsubishi	508	1.1%
24	Subaru	1,444	0.7%		24	MINI	450	1.0%
25	Daihatsu	1,186	0.6%		25	smart	386	0.8%
26	Zastava	1,015	0.5%		26	Dacia	283	0.6%
27	Volvo	417	0.2%		27	Mazda	219	0.5%
28	Saab	157	0.1%		28	Daihatsu	149	0.3%
	Others	78				Others	244
	Total	199,004				Total	45,535

Even with 2012 only being for nine months, sales have collapsed, so no surprise there. In most markets, the biggest brands have lost share over the years, but here the reverse has taken place. The difficult trading conditions seem to be the reason as this has only happened over the last three years. As far as brands go, a few have gone, others shuffled around but overall not that much change. Except for the crash in volume of course.

For Greek sales in 2011 please click here 

Data source: SEAA

The Rover 400 (45) 2000-2004

This is one of three articles about the Rover 400/45 model.

This car needed replacing but got a facelift instead. Not enough sales for the 400 model to go it alone, yet then owners BMW tried just that and failed. They sold up and took the replacement model designs back to Munich to rot in an office draw. Who thinks capitalism has a caring side? Anyway, it soldiered on but was losing ground to the newer competition. The last owners named the Phoenix Four didn't have the money to do a new model but pretended they did.

Below are production figures of the third and last effort by MGR. There was still something to like about the car. A sporty MG ZS model was added but as you can see, it wasn't that successful.

Year	Tot	45	ZS
2000	49900	49900	-
2001	44200	38275	5925
2002	33250	26400	6850
2003	22100	15650	6450
2004	20700	14950	5750
2005	5425	3300	2125
Tot	175600	148500	27100
Avg	29250	24750	5425

Now some major markets:

Yr	UK	Spa	Fra	Italy	Germ	Ned	Por	Bel	Gre
00	?	?	4400	5300	?	1175	?	?	750
01	20650	?	3100	3400	1875	800	?	?	600
02	20925	?	2100	1850	850	425	?	550	350
03	15800	4375	1600	1250	650	475	700	325	125
04	11350	4525	1250	875	725	350	600	275	150
05	4175	2050	825	275	350	200	200	225	150
Tot	72900	10950	13275	12850	4450	3425	1500	1375	2125
Avg	14600	3650	2225	2150	900	575	500	350	350

I see the Spanish liked them right to the end. A modest seller in Germany though.

The 400 range was a useful seller for Rover but as you can see by the production figures from 2000, past its 'use by date'. I am sure that many who buy a used example of them will find them a car with character and a nice vehicle to drive.

To read about the 1995-99 period  please click here 

Pics: http://www.netcarshow.com/rover

The Rover 400 1995-99

                 This is one of three articles about the Rover 400/45 model.

The 400 HHR model was a new model based on the Honda Domani, which was apparently sold in Europe as part of the Honda Civic range as a hatchback and estate (wagon). The new 400 model was to be separate from the 200 range. Rover wanted to have more input into the car as it had with the R8, but Honda had different ideas and the Domani was offered pretty much as it was. All I can say is that Rover had better designers when it came to aesthetics than Honda did. Rover did eventually get some input into the 4 door model and was the better for that. It seems Rover wanted a bigger car but had to take what Honda offered. Rover in fact pitched the HHR at a class larger than it was, but the strategy fooled no one. 

Being a model range in its own right, the 400 was produced in larger numbers as a Rover, but without the Honda Concerto variant any more. The production figures below testify to the solid sales of the new range. The 1999 figure does include some production form the 45 model that replaced it. 

Year	Prod
1995	68,500
1996	108,900
1997	144,000
1998	145,000
1999	91,400
Total	557,800
Avg	111,600

As for sales by countries, some are listed below:

Year	UK	Italy	France	Germ	Neder
1995	47,350	?	2,450	?	800
1996	63,850	15,600	7,100	?	1,500
1997	61,900	17,100	7,650	?	1,650
1998	57,300	10,200	8,300	7,900	2,500
1999	33,350	6,000	5,800	6,150	1,650
Total	263,750	48,875	31,300	14,050	8,100
Avg	52,750	12,225	6,250	7,025	1,620

 This was not the model it should have been. Rover needed something larger, especially the Hatch version, but the company was tied to what Honda offered. Overall quite successful.

To read about the 1990-94 period  please click here 

Pics: http://www.netcarshow.com/rover

The Rover 400 1990-94

This is one of three articles about the Rover 400/45 model.

The first Rover 400 (R8) came out in 1990 and was a 4 door saloon (sedan) version of the 200 model. Later a 400 Tourer Estate (wagon) model came along also. The car was a joint venture between Rover and Honda, the latter got the Concerto Model from the collaboration. Being able to produce both cars off the same assembly line bought cost efficiencies for both companies.

Below are production figures for both the Rover 400 and Honda Concerto. The '% 400' column represents the percentage the Rover model got as opposed to it's Honda equivalent. The 1995 year figure is low as the R8 was replaced during the year with the new HH-R model. Combined production for the outgoing and incoming models was 91,200.  

Year	400	H Con	% 400
1990	35,500	26,500	57
1991	45,100	36,000	56
1992	47,600	32,400	60
1993	48,500	18,400	72
1994	50,800	8,700	85
1995	22,700	2,200	91
Total	250,200	124,200	67
Avg	41,700	20,700	67

Now for sales of the 400 in two markets only. Often 200/400 sales were combined, so I cannot ascertain sales elsewhere. The 1995 figure includes the new 400 HH-R model too. 

Year	UK	France
1990	20,500	-
1991	25,400	2,500
1992	23,400	2,600
1993	33,150	3,150
1994	29,550	2,400
1995	47,350	2,450
Total	179,350	13,100
Avg	29,892	2,600

Overall, a convincing effort. Some say it was the best 400, and I am thinking so too. 

To read about the Austin Montego  click here