China Full Year 2011: Buick Excelle best-seller after 4 years at #2

Buick Excelle

* See the Top 250 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

This month I have split China into 2 articles as there is too much to talk about! You can see the China December 2011 article here. In 2011, 40 models sold over 100,000 units in China, compared to 34 in 2010 and… 40 as well in the USA.

After two years of BYD F3 domination, the Buick Excelle takes the lead of the Chinese market in 2011 with 253,514 sales, up 14% on 2010 and its highest annual volume ever in the country. It is the first time the Excelle holds the year-end pole position in China after finishing 2006 only 318 units off the first place and also ranking #2 in 2007, 2008 and 2009. It is also the first time a Buick is #1 in China. The Excelle ranked in the monthly Top 5 for 11 months out of 12, and #1 3 times.

VW Lavida

The VW Lavida was #1 year-to-date up until July when a wobbly transition into the new model cost it the top spot. It finishes the year in 2nd place like in 2010 with 247,475 units, down 2%. The Lavida topped the monthly ranking 5 times this year. In third place we find the Chevrolet Cruze with sales up an excellent 18% to a best-ever 221,196 sales, nearly as much as in the US. The Cruze peaked at #2 in February.

Nissan Sunny

The VW Jetta is still valiant at #4 with 218,964 units (-3%): the Jetta has now been in the Chinese Top 4 for the last 15 years! It is followed by the VW Bora at 205,568 sales (+19%) and the Chevrolet Sail up a massive 34 spots and 133% to #6 at 198,874 units. At #7, the FAW Xiali N3/N5 passes the BYD F3 (down from #1 in 2010 to #10) to reclaim the title of best-selling Chinese model for the first time since 2007. The Nissan Sunny is the best-performing all-new model, landing directly at #15 with 156,954 units.

Buick Excelle XT (aka Opel Astra)

Other good 2011 performers include the VW Passat up 27% to #12, Great Wall Voleex C30 up 99% to #20, Hyundai Verna up 212% to #21, Buick Excelle XT/GT up 65% to #22, VW Tiguan up 84% to #23, Nissan Qashqai up 79% to #34, Hyundai ix35 up 63% to #38 & VW Golf up 74% to #41.

Baojun 630

Further down the ranking, notice the new generation Hyundai Sonata landing directly at #60, the BYD S6 at #75, Kia K2 (aka Rio) at #78 and Chery E5 at #112. Brilliance launched the H530 (#158) and Peugeot the 508 (#164) and 308 (#185). 2011 was also the year 2 manufacturers launched the first model of their new ‘low-cost’ brand: Honda places the Linian S1 at #136 with 24,635 sales and General Motors places the Baojun 630 at #145 with 21,854 units.

Previous month: China November 2011: Great Wall Haval up to best-ever #7

Previous year: China Full Year 2010: BYD F3 #1 for the 2nd year in a row

Full Year 2011 Top 250 Ranking Table below.