]]> Tunisian Vehicle Sales in September 2023 fall for the 15th month in a row, reporting 3,743 new registrations (-17.6%). YTD figures at 32,899 are down 19.3% from the previous year. Skoda makes it into the Top 10 (+60.2%).

Market Trend and Outlook

The Tunisian vehicle market in September 2023 falls for the 15th month in a row, reporting 3,743 new registrations (-17.6%). YTD figures at 32,899 are down 19.3% from the previous year.

Looking at cumulative data up to September 2023 brand-wise, Hyundai maintains 1st position with 5,275 sales (-6.7%), followed by Kia with 3,777 (-9.6%) and Toyota -up 1 spot- at 3,382 new registrations (+2.7%).

Suzuki grows 4 spots into 4th with2,545 sales (+36.8%), in front of Isuzu -down 2 spot- at 2,324 (-39.8%), Seat at 1,359 registrations (+44.6%) and Mahindra -up 5 spots- in 7th with 1,293 units sold (+15.9%).

Peugeot falls 3 spots into 8th position with 1,239 sales (-60.4%), followed by Dacia -up 5 spots- at 1,084 registrations (+19.8%) and Skoda closing the Top 10 -up 7 spots- with 987 units sold (+60.2%).

Looking at specific models the Hyundai grandeur i10 remains the best seller despite losing 13.0% in year-on-year sales, followed by the Isuzu D-Max down 39.2%.

Medium-Term Market Trend

The Tunisian vehicle market in recent years has had many ups and downs. Between 2010 and 2013 the market fluctuated in the 30k to 50k range. Following a 13.3% growth in 2013 the market began to grow for 4 consecutive years, reaching the current all-time high in 2017 at 62,400 (+2.2%). The trend reversed in 2018 resulting in 2 years of losses that took sales back down to 49,497 by the end of 2019.

The global Covid-driven crises didn’t affect the Tunisian light vehicle market, that actually grew 2.6% to 50,796 sales.

The momentum gained in 2020 continued through 2021, reaching 61,708 sales (+21.5%). In 2022 sales began to fall again, with projections showing that the year will close around the 55k mark (-9.5%). A combination of factors are behind the current industry struggle: the disruption in the global supply chain caused by a lack of raw materials, in particular for the production of microchips and Governments push towards Evs, an expensive alternative for low income consumers.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 brands.

]]> Tunisian Vehicle Sales falls for the 6th month in a row, with registrations  in December reaching 5,401 (-5.6%). Final data from 2022 totals 55,281 sales, a 10.2% decrease from the prior year. Isuzu up 33.6%.

Market Trend and Outlook

The Tunisian vehicle market falls for the 8th month in a row, with registrations in December reaching 5401 (-5.6%). Final data from 2022 totals 55,281 sales, a 10.2% decrease from the prior year.

Looking at cumulative data from 2022 brand-wise, Hyundai moves into 1st position with 7,500 sales (+7.7%), followed by Kia with 5,840 (-16.8%) and Isuzu -up 4 spots- at 4,957 new registrations (+33.6%).

Toyota falls 1 spot into 4th with 4,702 sales (-0.5%), in front of Peugeot -down 1 spot- at 4,248 (-6.8%), Fiat at 3,315 registrations (-12.6%) and Volkswagen in 7th with 2,615 units sold (-22.4%).

Suzuki drops 1 spot into 8th position with 2,519 sales (-22.4%), followed by Renault at 2,082 registrations (-46.1%) and Chery closing the Top 10 with 1,983 units sold (+5.4%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 brands.

]]> Tunisian Auto market in 2021 rises by 21.5% with 61,708 sales, reporting a very strong performance all year, except for a drop in Q4. Hyundai reports the best performance this year, gaining 102.7%.

Market Trend

The Tunisian car market this year reported positive performance in all quarters, except for Q4, when sales fell in single-digit.

In the last decade, the market has been dynamic. In the period 2014-2017, the market hit all records in sequence, despite data not including the grey market, which is estimated to be over 10% of the “official”. After the record of 63.678 units sold in 2017, the market declined sharply in 2018, hit by the economic crisis, falling down at 52.935 (-16.9%).

In 2019 the negative path was not broken. Indeed, Total sales in 2019 have been 50.275, down 16.9% from the previous year. However, this is primarily due to the drop of the LCV segment, while the Passenger Car actually grew moderately from the previous year.

Sales in 2020 have remained almost unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 50.825 units have been sold, reporting a decline of only 1.1%.

In 2021 the year started positively for the Tunisian market, in fact, in Q1 14,095 units have been sold, reporting a 23.8% increase in sales compared to Q1 2020, and in Q2 sales kept growing, reporting a 87.3% increase in sales with 15,099 units sold.

In Q3 sales were still growing effectively, rising 15.7% with 15,807 units, while in Q4 sales dropped by 5.6% with 16,707 units sold.

Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2021 have been 61,708, reporting a 21.5% increase compared to 2020.

Brand-wise, this year the leader Kia (+34.1%) gained 1% market share, followed by Hyundai (+102.7%), which gained 4.5% share and reported the best performance. Toyota (+74.2%) reached third position and gained 2.3% market share.

Peugeot -down 1 spot- gained 8.7%, followed by Renault (+28%), Fiat (+38.8%) and Isuzu, which reported the worst performance on the leaderboard by dropping 22.5%. At the bottom of the leaderboard we have Volkswagen -down 2 spots- gaining 11.5%, followed by Suzuki (+13.9%) and Seat (+45.8%).

The most sold model in the country this year is the Hyundai Grand i10 with 4,613 sales (+132.7%), holding 7.5% share.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 brands.

]]> Tunisian auto market in 2020 falls by only 1.1% despite the pandemic,  lockdowns, and a fall in tourism. Full-Year sales have been 50.825, while Kia (+19%) becomes the new market leader by overtaking Isuzu (-12.9%).

Economic Environment

The economic panorama remains subdued in the second half of the year, following the sharp pandemic-induced contraction in activity in Q2. Merchandise trade data for Q3 indicated a slump in exports as slack demand from key international markets hit the mining and energy sectors, while imports nosedived on evaporating domestic demand.

Moreover, the inhibited state of global tourism has hit the hospitality sector hard, with revenues from tourist activities expected to have plunged across the third quarter.

The economy is projected to rebound strongly in 2021 after a marked contraction in 2020. Growth in household and capital spending should boost domestic demand, while the expected return of higher levels of tourism is likely to bolster the external sector. Uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic clouds the outlook.

Market Trend

The Tunisian car market remained almost flat in 2020 despite the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent drop in tourism.

In the last decade, the market has been dynamic. In the period 2014-2017, the market hit all records in sequence, despite data not including the grey market, which is estimated to be over 10% of the “official”. After the record of 63.678 units sold in 2017, the market declined sharply in 2018, hit by the economic crisis, falling down at 52.935 (-16.9%).

In 2019 the negative path was not broken. Indeed, Total sales in 2019 have been 50.275, down 16.9% from the previous year. However, this is primarily due to the drop of the LCV segment, while the Passenger Car actually grew moderately from the previous year.

Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2020 have been 50.825, reporting a decline of only 1.1% compared to 2019.

Brand-wise, this year the new leader Kia (+19%) gained 1.4% market share, overtaking Isuzu (-12.9%), which lost 1.8% share. Peugeot (+10.2%) reached third position and gained 0.5% market share.

The most sold model in the country this year is the Isuzu D-Max with 2.547 sales (-0.7%), holding 5% share.

]]> Tunisian Vehicles Sales went down 17.4% in the 2018 hit by the introduction of new duties, ending the full year at 52.601 units sold. Isuzu is market leader followed by Citroen, while Renault kept the 3rd place few units ahead of Peugeot.

Economic Environment

Tunisian economy is sustained by the strong tourism and a good performance from the agricultural sector, although the large trade deficit remains a key source of concern. Despite having unlocked loans worth USD 747 million from the IMF and the World Bank in recent weeks, on 8 October Moody’s downgraded Tunisia’s outlook to negative, citing the country’s rapidly depleting foreign exchange reserves.

Tunisia’s prospects are riddled with challenges this year. The country’s main vulnerabilities—large fiscal and current account deficits coupled with low foreign reserves—are notably compounded by political instability and unrest, fueled by high unemployment and inflation.

Market Trend

Tunisian domestic vehicles market has fast grown in the recent years ending a positive trend in the 2018, when the introduction of duties have hit severely the official market.

Indeed the market have hit the all time record both in the 2016 and in the 2017 (63.678 sales) even not considering the high quota of grey market, estimated in the range of 15%. However, the government decision to increase the duties on import, effective since January 1st 2018, obtained the result to block the market development and even to move the trend in a negative pathway with 2018 sales at 52.601 (-17.4%).

Brand-wise, the 2018 market leader was Isuzu with 7.178 sales (+1.2%) and 13.6% of market share. In second place Citroen with 4.518 (-19.7%) followed by Renault with 3.647 (-27.4%), Peugeot with 3.617 (-16%), Kia with 3.470 (-20.7%) and Volkswagen with 3.377 (-27.9%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

[/member

Market	Sales 2014	Sales 2015	Sales 2016	Sales 2017	Sales 2018	'+/- 2018
Car	48.264	42.000	41.651	46.123	36.388	-21,1%
LCV	5.226	15.640	18.867	17.555	16.213	-7,6%
Total	53.490	57.640	60.518	63.678	52.601	-17,4%

ship]

]]> Tunisia Cars Market in the 2017 increased for the third year on a row hitting the new record at 63.678 units, up 5.2%. Light commercial segment is pulling the market up and Isuzu has taken the leadership ahead of Citroen and Renault.

Tunisian economy seems poised to record another quarter of subdued growth in Q3, after decelerating in Q2. Following vocal protests in the south, phosphate production, a key source of foreign revenue, shrank by almost a fifth in annual terms in the first nine months of the year. Partly due to contracting phosphate production, the trade deficit widened by more than 20% year-on-year in the January to August period, as import growth outpaced export growth. As a consequence, foreign reserves reached their lowest level in three decades in August, covering just three months of imports.

Tunisian domestic vehicles market has shown a positive tone during the last years and in the 2016 scored the new all time record. According to the data release by the local Association of Car Distributors, in the 2017 sales have been 63.678, up 5.2%. (data regards official market while a robust trading is in place in the country with grey market estimated around 15%).

Brand-wise, the market leader is Isuzu with 7.094 sales (+17.0%), dominating the light commercial vehicles segment.

In second place Citroen with 5.626 sales (+6.3%) followed by Renault with 5.023 sales (+16.7%), Volkswagen with 4.683 (-22.2%), Kia with 4.375 (-18.5%), Peugeot with 4.307 (-8.2%) and Fiat with 3.806 (+10.2%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

]]> Tunisia Auto Sales 2016 at the new all time record, the third in a row, albeit the end of the year was shy, with the fourth quarter down. Isuzu shines on top of the ranking.

Market Outlook

The latest data for Q3 GDP growth point to a feeble Tunisian economy. Economic activity slowed down from the same quarter of the previous year mainly due to a higher-than-expected downturn in the agricultural sector, in particular in the key olive industry. Moreover, industrial production was almost stagnant in the three months to September, since poor demand from the EU and continuous labor unrest are hampering important industrial sectors.

The government’s inclusion of severe austerity measures in the 2017 budget, which was passed at the end of 2016, has exacerbated social and political turmoil in the country.

However, the domestic new vehicles market kept the positive path, albeit a weak Q4 performance, ending the 2016 at the new all time record, the third in a row.

Indeed, according to the data release by the local Association of Car Distributors, total vehicles sales had been 59.845, up 8.2% from the previous record.

In addition to this “official” data, the parallel import kept robust with over 6.000 of new vehicles imported, mainly for European brands.

Competitive Arena

Market leader was Isuzu, with 6.064 sales (+61.5%), grabbing the leadership just in the last quarter to the former leader, Volkswagen, arrived second with 6.016 sales (+10.6%). Third was Kia with 5.367 (+27.3%)

In fourth place Citroen with 5.290 sales  (-46.4%) ahead of Peugeot with 4.690 (-10.7%), Renault with 4.303 (+1.8%) and Hyundai with 3.706 (+22.2%).

As far as the Groups performance, the leader was PSA with 17.6% of market share, ahead of Volkswagen with 15.6%, Hyundai-Kia with 15.1% and Renault-Nissan with 12.8%.

As far as the best-selling models performance, the Isuzu D-Max led the competition with 4.807 sales (+48.1%) followed by the Volkswagen Polo with 1.951 (-5.9%), the Kia Picanto with 1.518 (+94.4%), the Volkswagen Golf with 1.352 (+12.1%) and the Renault Clio with 1.314 (-7.4%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands