Japan Imports Full Year 2012: VW Golf #1, Mini at record heights

Mini Countryman

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 45 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new imported Passenger Cars are up a very healthy 15% year-on-year to 300,594 registrations in 2012, breaking the 300,000 annual unit-barrier for the first time in 15 years! As it has been the case for at least the last 10 years, the VW Golf is the most popular import in Japan, albeit with sales down 15% to 22,252 units, its lowest level since 2009. 2013 will be a fascinating year to follow as the VW Up!, launched in October 2012, has already shot up to #4 over the last Quarter of the year, ahead of the Golf…

BMW 1 Series

The Mini is up one spot and 13% year-on-year to finish 2012 in 2nd position with 16,212 sales, its highest ever year-end ranking and volume in the country. Note Countyman sales are included in this figure. The Mercedes C-Class also has a fantastic year, up 32% to 15,479 units and leading the charts over the last Quarter of 2012, putting an end to 22 consecutive Quarters of VW Golf domination. The BMW 3 Series and 1 Series are the other success stories of 2012, respectively up 25% and 98% to #5 and #6 while the Mercedes B-Class is up an even more impressive 118% to land at #10.

BMW 3 Series

There is now also an exclusive Top 45 All-imported brands ranking available for Japan. Volkswagen leads, up 11% to 56,191 sales – the carmaker’s highest volume in the country in 10 years, but Mercedes and BMW are catching up, respectively up 26% and 20% to 41,911 and 41,254 units. Audi (+14%), Mini (+13%) and Volvo (+18%) follow, all in great shape. Reversely, both Fiat (-5%) and Peugeot (-11%) lose ground, while Jeep up 58% to #9, Alfa Romeo up 139% to #11 and Land Rover up 95% to #15 deliver the best performances in the Top 20. Notice also Lamborghini up 79%, Bentley up 71% and Ferrari up 34%. Hyundai (108 sales), SsangYong (3) and Kia (2) are stuck at minuscule figures.

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Full Year 2012 Top 20 models and Top 45 All-brands Ranking Tables below.