Indonesia April 2012: Avanza rules – now sharing my photo album!

Toyota Avanza in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

As I promised on my return from my trip to Bali, I am using the Indonesian April update to share with you more photos I took while I was there. The podium is expected: the Toyota Avanza grabs over 20% of the market with 15,882 sales, making it 63,880 since the start of the year, and is followed by the Toyota Kijang Innova at 6,448 units and 8.4% and the Avanza’s twin the Daihatsu Xenia with 5,884 sales and 7.6%.

Toyota Innova in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Daihatsu Xenia in Seminyak, Bali Indonesia April 2012

The fourth place is a surprise for those of you who have been following this blog: previously stuck outside the Top 10 because split in different versions, the Daihatsu Gran Move pick-up finally gets the opening it deserves and delivers 3,721 sales for an excellent 4.8% share. The Minivan version is also very successful at #20 with 1,039 units.

Daihatsu Gran Max Luxio in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Typical street scene in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Mitsubishi places relatively old designs pretty high in the ranking: the L300 (minivan) is #8 while the T120 SS (Pick-up) is #12 and the very similar looking Suzuki Carry Pick-up at #9. I can confirm that these 3 models sell very well in Bali and have been for years as I have seen dozens of them in the streets.

Suzuki Ertiga

At #15 with 1,321 sales for its first month in the country we find the all-new Suzuki Ertiga imported from India even though it seems to have been designed especially for the minivan crave of Indonesian consumers. I saw some billboard advertising for it while in Bali but none in the streets so the model’s deployment across the country must still be in progress.

Suzuki APV in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Finally in a surprisingly low #19 spot (it was #4 over the Full Year 2011) we find the Suzuki APV, nearly the equal of the Toyota Avanza on Bali roads, with 1,082 sales. No doubt it will climb back up the ladder in the next few months. You can see the entire Top 20 for April by clicking here.

Toyota Alphard in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Now over to me to share with you what the official ranking doesn’t tell you… You will have got it by now, Indonesia is incredibly fond of MPVs, and it seems that any car in the market that gets close to this shape is an instant success. It is the case of the Honda Freed, Suzuki Splash, Suzuki Estilo and Toyota Alphard, seemingly reserved for VIP, like the English band One Direction while I was there!

Typical street scene in Seminyak, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Geely MK2 in Seminyak, Bali Indonesia April 2012

In all this fascinating car landscape, there doesn’t seem to be too many Chinese models I hear you say, and you would be right. With one exception: traditionally the territory of the Toyota Vios, more and more taxi drivers in Seminyak are starting to opt for a brand new Geely MK2. I took a ride in one and apart from the flimsy noise the door makes when it closes (what did I expect, an Audi sound?) it seemed to me to be rather well equipped.

Previous month: Indonesia March 2012: Toyota Avanza and Innova in command

Previous year: Indonesia Full Year 2011: Toyota Avanza still #1 in record market

Full April 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.