Most Popular Model Europe: 1996-2012

First of all, we will look at the 2012 Top 10 models:

1	VW Golf	431742	-11.1%
2	Ford Fiesta	306405	-12,7%
3	VW Polo	287828	-19.8%
4	GM Corsa	265297	-16.1%
5	Renault Clio	244280	-17.4%
6	Ford Focus	241862	-14.7%
7	GM Astra	232645	-20.1%
8	Nissan Qashqai	207885	-0.3%
5	Renault Mégane	199167	-17.5%
10	VW Passat	195617	-17.1%

All of them lost volume with only the Qashqai basically the same as last year, amazing for a model well along in its life cycle. It replaced the only model to drop off the list from 2011, the Peugeot 207.

The following list looks at Top 10 models from 1996. The column second from left is times in the Top 10 and the column on the extreme right is times #1 was attained :

1	VW Golf	17	11
2	GM Astra	17	2
3	Renault Clio	17	-
4	Ford Esc/Focus	17	-
5	GM Corsa	16	-
6	Fiat Punto	13	1
7	VW Polo	14	-
8	Peug 206/207	12	3
9	Renault Mégane	12	-
10	Ford Fiesta	12	-
11	BMW 3 Series	5	-
12	Peug 307	5	-
13	VW Passat	5	-
14	Opel Vectra	3	-
15	Renault Scénic	2	-
16	Fiat Panda	1	-
17	Audi A4	1	-
18	Nissan Qashqai	1	-

The top four have always been on the list, while the Corsa missed just once. However, when it comes to the top spot, only four cars have managed it - with the Golf way ahead with 11 podium placings.

Finally by Brand since 1996:

1	GM	36
1	VW	36
3	Renault	31
4	Ford	29
5	Peugeot	17
6	Fiat	14
7	BMW	5
8	Audi	1
8	Nissan	1

GM and VW are neck and neck, but VW could pass in 2013. The variance isn't that great, with certain makes dominating repeatedly. The predictability may not be so great in future.

Data source: please click here 
Picture Source: Thanks to www.netcarshow.com

Car Sales Venezuela: 2012

This is a very unusual car market. Virtually all vehicles are made locally and the importation of cars is strictly controlled. So locally made cars give it a stability but how the government allows imports an unpredictability as well. Toyota, Mazda and VW benefited with imports this year, hence the big rise in sales. Civetchi is an importer of various Chinese cars brands and it was granted much improved import conditions. It is quite a unique car market that government controls take away market forces having that much influence.

The first three columns show 2010 to 2012 ranking, the second column in from the right is increase or decrease, and the extreme right shows market share for the major brands. +++ means a very big increase.

1	1	1		Chevrolet	43,708	-1%	33.5%
2	2	2		Ford	23,447	-10%	18.0%
3	3	3		Toyota	16,856	67%	12.9%
4	4	4		Chrysler	9,423	-3%	7.2%
6	6	5		Mitsubishi	8,371	32%	6.4%
5	7	6		Kia	6,017	8%	4.6%
7	5	7		Hyundai	4,601	-41%	3.5%
15	17	8		Civetchi	3,478	+++	2.7%
14	13	9		Mazda	3,102	228%	2.4%
8	8	10		Iveco	2,936	11%	2.2%
12	9	11		Peugeot	2,002	13%	1.5%
10	16	12		VW	1,564	411%	1.2%
13	14	13		Mack	1,316	95%	1.0%
9	11	14		Renault	1,093	0%	0.8%
18	10	15		Fiat	1,050	-34%	0.8%
11	12	16		Daihatsu	886	-9%	0.7%
-	-	17		Citroen	320
21	21	18		Scania	293	+++
17	15	19		Mercedes	58	-91%
22	19	20		BMW	18	-5%
16	18	21		Nissan	11	-45%
26	-	22		Audi	3
				Total	130,553	8%

Data Source: Thanks to Cavenez
Picture Source: Thanks to www.netcarshow.com

Car Sales Nissan UK By Model: 2009-12

Nissan release data of sales by model for the UK market. I have to say the openness is refreshing, and a credit to Nissan UK. If only other car makers were this open. Let's face it, the competition know what Nissan is selling if they are doing their job well, and visa versa. As to why some companies are so secretive is pointless and worse, they are missing uot on a chance to promote thier business.

I will start by promoting the excellent job Nissan are doing in the UK. Looking at the chart below, you can see how Nissan are growing each year and gaining market share. They make excellent vehicles both in design and reliability. The UK public are realising this and supporting the brand more and more.

The Qashqai (Dualis for Aussie readers) just keeps getting stronger as more people are aware of what it has to offer. The new Juke may have looks you like or don't nevertheless is increasing strongly. The Note is a practical car which came to NZ only as a used import from Japan (I don't know why it wasn't sold new like the other two mentioned so far) but coming to the end of its model cycle.

Model	2012	2011	2010	2009
Qashqai	45,662	39,406	39,048	30,554
Juke	28,858	21,900	5,389	-
Note	12,931	13,460	16,643	18,176
Micra	12,527	14,053	18,723	19,421
Pixo	2,073	2,476	5,031	4,738
X Trail	1,788	2,275	1,580	2,212
Leaf	699	635	-	-
Pathfinder	459	731	617	903
N200 Combi	360	421	279	1
GT-R	272	353	449	1,051
Z	158	420	818	497
Total	105,816	96,269	89,678	77,924

Well done Nissan for your fine sales achievements in the UK and being open with your sales data. May others follow. A selection of models are below....

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Juke

Nissan Note

Nissan GTR

Picture source: Thanks to www.netcarshow.com