The Chevrolet Captiva emerged as a notable performer in Kuwait during the year so far, securing the fifth spot in overall brand popularity. Across the first nine months of 2021, new-vehicle sales in Kuwait rose by 38.2 percent year over year, reaching 76,854 units. Toyota remained the dominant force, though its growth lagged the market pace with a 7.5 percent increase and maintaining a commanding 28.9 percent share as the leading brand. Nissan doubled its sales from the previous year, climbing to 11.7 percent of the market with a 100.9 percent gain, while Chevrolet surged by 53.3 percent and Mitsubishi by 61.9 percent, underscoring strong momentum for these brands.
Other members of the Top 10 posted robust gains as well: MG advanced by 72.4 percent, Honda by 44.2 percent, and Ford by 42.6 percent, outpacing overall market growth. Hyundai and Lexus, while posting positive numbers, did not match the market’s pace. Geely, Cadillac, Land Rover, Lincoln, Suzuki, Jeep, Renault, and Mazda also reported impressive improvements, with gains ranging from around 81 percent to 151 percent in many cases, signaling a broad-based rise in consumer demand across a wide spectrum of brands. These results reflect a diverse landscape where both traditional favorites and newer entrants gained traction in Kuwait’s evolving auto market.
When looking at models specifically, the Toyota Land Cruiser remained the most popular vehicle in the country, maintaining a 7.5 percent market share and a 20.6 percent year-over-year growth. The Nissan Sunny demonstrated a remarkable 188.5 percent surge, helping it secure a podium position alongside the Camry, which advanced by 2.9 percent. The Nissan Patrol climbed to fourth place with a sizable 112.8 percent increase, and the Chevrolet Captiva jumped to fifth with a standout 152.7 percent rise—marking its first appearance in the Top 5 for the period.
Among other notable performances in the Top 10, the Toyota Hiace rose by 84.3 percent, Mitsubishi Pajero by 55 percent, and the Toyota Hilux by 53.1 percent, contributing to broader market strength. The Land Rover Defender surged by an extraordinary 354.1 percent, while the Honda Civic grew 111.9 percent and the Hyundai Tucson by 81.1 percent. A recent introduction, Geely Tugella, marked its presence by ranking #49 among the newest entrants with several closely related models such as the Nissan Xterra (#71), Great Wall Poer (#94), Mitsubishi Xpander (#95), and Haval H6 (#96) following behind. These figures illustrate a market that rewards both established nameplates and fresh arrivals.
For perspective, the market overview references a prior period highlighting similar momentum. A previous contribution noted changes in the Kuwait market during seven months of 2021, with Nissan and MG standing out by about 51.6 percent. Looking at the full-year 2020, Toyota Land Cruiser again topped the chart, while Chinese brands showed a decline of around 23.7 percent, underscoring the shifting dynamics as 2021 unfolded. The nine-month 2021 Top 40 brands and Top 50 models provide a broad snapshot of brand strength and model appeal across the market.
Source context for these observations is drawn from market reports and brand performance data compiled for Kuwait’s automotive sector in 2021. Attribution to the respective market analysts and data providers is noted in the cited materials.