SINGAPORE'S top car in 2008 has been dethroned after the first
two months of 2009, as an old favourite returned to rule the
roost.
The Toyota Corolla Altis is again the island's No 1 model, based on
January and February sales by members of the Motor Traders
Association of Singapore (MTA).
At No 2 is another Toyota, the Vios. Last year's winner, the Honda
Civic, has since dropped to No 7.
Observers say the Civic has been hit by the rising Japanese yen,
which has made the pricing of the top two Toyota models more
attractive by comparison.
The Corolla Altis and Vios, as well as the No 6 Toyota Camry, are
assembled in Thailand and are all traded in Singapore
dollars.
Perhaps the biggest sales surprise in the first two months of 2009
is the Hyundai Avante, which has come from literally nowhere to
rank No 3 in the sales chart.
The next nearest Korean model is the Kia Picanto at No 9.
The ageing Toyota Wish MPV is the No 4 seller, with 519 units - a
tally that would have been higher if 80 units sold as taxis by
authorised distributor Borneo Motors Singapore were included.
Another model that would have figured in the honours list, if it
were not a taxi, is the Hyundai Sonata, with 241 units of this
diesel model registered in the first two months of 2009.
Also quietly cruising up the charts is the Nissan Latio, the fifth
most popular model in Singapore so far this year.
