Japan Imports June 2012: BMW 1 Series and VW Beetle shine
VW Beetle
* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *
Imports sales in Japan are published every Quarter by the Japan Automobile Importers Association, and over the first 6 months of 2012, 150,668 imported new cars found a buyer in the country, up 15% on 2011. As it has been the case for the last 10 years, the VW Golf is the best-selling import in Japan over Q2 2012 with 5,356 sales, albeit down 19% year-on-year. At 13,013 units over 6 months, the Golf is down 9% on 2011 but still way ahead in the ranking.
BMW 1 Series
Excellent performance of the Mini: it takes the 2nd spot over Q2 with 3,896 sales but is still #3 year-to-date at 8,242 units (+26%) below the VW Polo at 8,853 (+47%). The BMW 1 Series is up a fantastic 190% year-on-year thanks to the new generation at 2,778 sales, the Mercedes B-Class is up 213% to #8, the new VW Beetle makes its first appearance in the ranking at #13 with 1,187 units, as does the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at #14.
Previous post: Japan Imports March 2012: Mercedes C-Class #3, CLS in Top 20
Previous year: Japan Imports Full Year 2011: VW Golf #1, now in overall Top 30!
Full Q2 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.
Japan Q2 2012:
| Pos | Model | Q2 2012 | /11 | 6m 2012 | /11 | Pos | 2011 |
| 1 | VW Golf | 5,356 | -19% | 13,012 | -9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Mini | 3,896 | 1% | 8,242 | 26% | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | VW Polo | 3,150 | -8% | 8,853 | 47% | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Mercedes C-Class | 2,857 | -5% | 7,786 | 41% | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | BMW 1 Series | 2,778 | 190% | 5,391 | 162% | 6 | 11 |
| 6 | Toyota Town/Lite Ace | 2,457 | -12% | 5,848 | -2% | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | BMW 3 Series | 2,387 | -7% | 4,041 | -11% | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Mercedes B-Class | 2,132 | 213% | 2,920 | 81% | 11 | 18 |
| 9 | BMW 5 Series | 1,811 | -24% | 3,874 | -17% | 9 | 6 |
| 10 | Volvo V60 | 1,795 | 26% | 3,672 | 71% | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Mercedes E-Class | 1,632 | -10% | 4,322 | 3% | 7 | 8 |
| 12 | BMW X1 | 1,252 | -2% | 2,814 | 38% | 12 | 10 |
| 13 | VW Beetle | 1,187 | new | n/a | new | n/a | - |
| 14 | Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 1,168 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 15 | Audi A4 | 1,147 | 10% | 2,407 | -5% | 14 | 12 |
| 16 | Fiat 500 | 1,106 | -14% | 2,248 | 8% | 15 | 13 |
| 17 | VW Passat | 1,085 | 7% | 2,509 | 66% | 13 | 16 |
| 18 | Toyota Avensis | 989 | n/a | 1,984 | n/a | 17 | n/a |
| 19 | Audi A1 | 976 | -25% | 2,051 | -6% | 16 | 14 |
| 20 | Volvo V50 | 940 | 44% | 1,861 | 26% | 18 | 17 |
Source: www.jaia-jp.org
