Best Selling Cars Around The Globe: What The Israeli Bought In 2012

Matt Gasnier
by Matt Gasnier

We continue to travel around the world and explore what the main car markets in the world looked like in 2012. We have gone through the Chinese, European, Russian and Indian markets already, now let’s have a look at Israel….

Not really interested? That’s ok, you can check out the best-selling models and brands in 172 additional countries and territories on my blog. Enjoy!

Back to Israel. And in Israel, Mazda is so 2011 right now…

Ford Focus

See the Top 10 best-selling carmakers in Israel here

Not helped by a month of December down 25% year-on-year, the Israeli new car market is down 9% on a record 2011 to 204,939 registrations in 2012. Brand-wise, Hyundai remains the most popular carmaker in the country and improves its market share to 15.4% thanks to 31,525 sales. It is now followed by Ford, up a huge 83% and 6 spots to #2 at 20,101 units and 9.8% while Toyota rounds up the podium like last year at 9.8% also. Kia is up 23% to 9.4% share, Skoda up 5 ranks and 22% to #5 at 5.5% share but Mazda is down 4 ranks and 48% to #6 with 11,092 sales and 5.4%.

See the Top 10 best-selling carmakers in Israel here


Hyundai i35

See the Top 265 best-selling models in Israel in 2012 here

The models ranking is completely reshuffled: after at least 7 consecutive years of reign of the Mazda3, the Ford Focus brilliantly become the top selling model in Israel this year with sales up a huge 151% to 15,792 units for a gargantuan 7.7% market share. The Toyota Corolla stays #2 but loses 29% to 8,138 sales and 4%.

Kia Picanto

See the Top 265 best-selling models in Israel in 2012 here

The Hyundai i35 (aka Elantra) is up 135% and 17 spots to round up the podium thanks to 7,589 sales and 3.7%, and a third model more than doubles its sales vs. last year in the Top 10: the Kia Picanto is up 131% and 19 ranks to land in 5th place at 6,054 units and 3%. The Hyundai i20 is up 6% to the Hyundai i25 (aka Accent) up 51% to #6 and the Seat Ibiza up 35% to #7.

But the biggest change this year in the Israeli models ranking is the Mazda3 losing its crown to fall not to second or third place but 8th, with sales down 55% year-on-year… For some reason it seems Israeli consumers have got really tired of Mazdas this year… except the Mazda CX-5 which is the best performing newcomer in 2012, landing directly at #30 with 2,090 units and 1% share.

See the Top 265 best-selling models in Israel in 2012 here

Matt Gasnier
Matt Gasnier

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  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Feb 18, 2013

    Is real? I wonder why VW is not the best seller over there. Also being in Israel few times I saw lot of French cars on streets but no mentioning of PSA/Renault and even Nissan in article either.

  • Henkdevries Henkdevries on Feb 19, 2013

    Being the first and sole VW dealer in Israel would be something. I see a Will Ferrell comedy coming up. Part 1 he tries in Jeruzalem, part 2 go figure...

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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