China July 2012: Hyundai Elantra and VW Sagitar shine

Hyundai Elantra Langdong

* See the Top 274 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

For the second time in the last 3 months, the Chevrolet Sail is the most popular passenger car in China, selling 23,643 units in July. It reinforces its second position in the 2012 year-to-date ranking with 161,297 sales, behind the Buick Excelle at 168,378. The Hyundai Elantra returns to heights it hadn’t reached in nearly 2 years (since September 2010), up 6 spots on June to #2 with 22,539 sales. However this figure includes the new generation ‘Langdong’ as well as the previous one ‘Yuedong’.

VW Sagitar

In third place we find the VW Sagitar (the new generation VW Jetta), breaking its ranking record in China for the second month in a row after placing 7th last month. It sells a record 21,844 units, the nameplate’s first month above 20,000, and now ranks #20 year-to-date with 89,079 units. Behind this exclusive trio, we find the heroes of the last few months: the Buick Excelle and VW Jetta are both down one spot to #4 and #5, the Ford Focus is down 5 to #6, the VW Bora is stable at #7 ahead of the Chevrolet Cruze (-2) and Honda CR-V (-1) with the VW Passat rounding up the Top 10, up 9 ranks on last month.

Nissan Sylphy

Explosive showing for the new generation Nissan Sylphy, up a mammoth 128 spots on June to #12 with 15,871 sales, in all likeliness already the nameplate’s highest ranking in the country. Chinese models have a new leader: the Great Wall Haval H6 up 13 ranks to #16 with 14,458 sales and now ranking #69 year-to-date. It is followed by the Emgrand EC7 at #25, the Chery QQ at #30, the Chery Tiggo at #33 and the BYD F3 stuck at #35 in spite of the arrival of the new generation. Notice also the Chery Fulwin 2 up 16 spots to #39 and the VW Lavida up 12 to a still shy #23 with the new model now available in dealerships.

ChangAn Eado

A few recent launches are having an awesome time in China: the ChangAn Eado confirms all the hopes the country places in it by gaining no less that 41 ranks on June to reach a best-ever #59 with 5,169 sales, the Great Wall Haval H4 is up 36 spots to #66 with 4,562 units, the Gleagle GX7 up 35 to #100, the GAC Trumpchi GS5 up 43 to #101, the Shanghai Englon SC3 up 28 to #128 and the Honda Elysion up 53 to #136.

Great Wall Haval M4

Chinese manufacturers Lifan and Brilliance also perform very well this month, with the Lifan 520 up 22 ranks to #76, the Lifan X60 up 21 to a record #102, the Brilliance FSV up 15 to #64, its highest ranking in nearly a year, and the Brilliance FRV up 40 to #93.

Lifan X60

Reversely, it’s an off month for absolutely all low-cost models launched in the country within the last year or so: the Venucia D50 is down 32 spots to #99, the Baojun 630 down 41 to #130, the Linian S1 down 27 to #152 and the Ciimo Si Ming down 6 to #169…

Yema F12

We welcome a new Chinese manufacturer in the ranking this month: Yema, introducing 3 models all built on the antediluvian Austin Maestro platform… The Yema F12 (a mix of Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester) lands at #220 with 249 sales, the Yema F10 (a mix of different generations of Subaru Forester) is #225 at 192 units and the Yema F99 (previous gen Subaru Forester) is #245 with 89 sales. Still very small – borderline insignificant – figures for now.

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

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

One year ago: China July 2011: Toyota Corolla leads for the first time

Full July Top 274 Ranking Table below.