China 6 months 2012: 3 US models in Top 4, no Chinese in Top 15!

Buick Excelle – China is the only country in the world where a Buick is #1

* See the Top 277 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The biggest car market in the world has seen its models ranking completely reorganised in the last year. The big and very unexpected trend is the rise and rise of American models and brands, and the fall of Chinese marques. Over the first 6 months of 2012, 3 of the 4 best-selling models in China are from American brands. Even though absolutely all models in this ranking are manufactured locally this is a very significant evolution that could potentially have a lot of positive consequences for US car manufacturers in the near future.

Chevrolet Sail

The Buick Excelle is now the most popular passenger car in the country. It finished 2011 in pole position and is #1 again over the first half of 2012 with 146,651 sales, up 21% year-on-year. By comparison, the best-selling American passenger car in the US over the same period, the Chevrolet Malibu, sold 141,437 units there… The Chevrolet Sail follows at 137,654 units, up a massive 64% and 8 spots, even topping the sales charts in May. At #3 we find the first of 5 Volkswagens in the Top 11: the antediluvian VW Jetta, still based on the 1984 model, up 2% to 118,407 sales. Just below is the Chevrolet Cruze, up 15% to 118,018 sales (vs. 113,884 in the US).

Chevrolet Cruze

The VW Passat is up 82% and 16 ranks to #5 and led the ranking in January, ahead of the VW Bora (+18%), the Ford Focus, another American leading the monthly ranking – this time in June, the VW Lavida, leader at the same time last year but now down 18% to #8 and the Hyundai Verna up 21 spots and 70% to #9. Notice also the VW Tiguan up 52% and 12 ranks to #11, the Nissan Tiida up 129% and 40 spots to #12 and the Honda CR-V up 50% and 14 ranks to #14.

The Emgrand EC7 is the only Chinese model in the Top 40 to gain positions year-on-year

While at the same time last year there were 2 Chinese models in the Top 5 and 4 in the Top 12, in 2012 there is no local in the Top 15! The FAW Xiali N3/N5 is the best-seller but down 19% to #16, followed by the Great Wall Haval H3/H5 down one spot to #20, the BYD F3 down 19 and 40% to #23, the Great Wall Voleex C30 down 13 to #25 and the Chery QQ down 16 to #27. The only local enjoying its time in the Top 40 is the Emgrand EC7, up 25% and 13 spots to #31…

Sales of Audi A4L are up 47% in China

In these eventful times, luxury German models are doing extremely well: the VW Magotan is up 49 spots and 124% to #18, the Audi A6L (L for extended wheelbase!) is up 19 and 39% to #21 with 70,286 sales, the Audi A4L is up 24 and 47% to #39 and the BMW 5 Series L is up 20 ranks and 31% to #45.

The Chery E5 is the 4th best performing all-new model over the period at #80

Other impressive gainers include the Nissan Qashqai up 44% to #24, the Kia K2 up 187 spots to #28, the Hyundai Sonata up 180% to #44, the BYD S6 up 841% to #47, the Dongfeng Future up 183% to #61 and the BYD L3 up 185% to #63. There are no less than 46 all-new models making their appearance in the ranking! The best-sellers are the Baojun 630 at #58, the Peugeot 308 at #70, the Mazda3 Xingcheng at #77 and the Chery E5 at #80.

Previous post: China June 2012: Ford Focus in pole position for the first time

Previous month: China May 2012: Chevrolet Sail leads the way, Ford Focus #2

One year ago: China June 2011: Nissan Sunny and VW Passat impress

Full 6 months 2012 Top 277 Ranking Table below.