Japan Imports Q3 2013: Mercedes A, CLA-Class & Volvo V40 shine

Mercedes CLA-Class

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

Like every Quarter, I can share with you the most popular imported models in Japan, a very rare species although it is getting more common these days: imports are up 10% year-to-date to 257,873 registrations or 10.5% of the overall ‘regular’ vehicles market so far this year vs. 8.6% one year ago. Thanks to the new generation, the VW Golf has reclaimed the pole position over the third quarter of the year with 6,319 sales, bringing its year-to-date total to 14,714 units, still down 21% on 2012. The BMW 3 Series is now #2 year-to-date thanks to another excellent quarter at 5,486 units, up 77% year-on-year, adding up to 13,269 year-to-date, up a huge 86% on 2012. The Mini rounds up the year-to-date podium at 12,393 sales, up 2%.

Volvo V40

Two models break into the imports Top 5 for the very first time in Japan: the Mercedes A-Class is up to a fantastic 4th place with 3,947 sales while the Volvo V40 is up to #5 at 3,208. The two newcomers now rank #7 and #9 respectively year-to-date. Note the Volvo V40 is the only non-German model in the Top 12 over Q3 2013! The other two inside the Top 20 are the Volvo V60 at #13 and the Fiat 500 at #19… We also welcome the Mercedes CLA, directly #16 import for its first quarter of sales in the country with 1,378 units finding a new home over the period. Finally, notice the good performances of the VW Beetle up 69% year-on-year and Audi A4 up 29%.

Previous post: Japan Imports June 2013: Mini and BMW 3 Series on top

One year ago: Japan Imports Q3 2012: VW Golf leads, BMW 3 Series in Top 5

Full Q3 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.