Japan Imports Full Year 2013: BMW 3 Series up 69% to #2

BMW 3 Series

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 47 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

346,133 imported models found a buyer in Japan in 2013, up 9% year-on-year. The VW Golf remains by far the most successful, boosted by a record-breaking 4th Quarter and up 7% on 2012 to 23,858 sales. The BMW 3 Series is the outstanding performer of the year thanks to the new model now in full swing: it gains 69% and 3 spots on 2012 to land at a shiny second place with 18,739 units. As a result the Mini is kicked down to third position but with sales up a further 5% it  delivers another record-breaking year – keep in mind this figure includes the Countryman.

The VW Up lands at #5 for its first full year of sales in Japan.

Flamboyantly back inside the Top 20 thanks to the new generation, the Mercedes A-Class shoots up directly to 4th place with 12,440 sales, while the VW Up is up 11 spots on last year to land at #5 with an excellent 12,322 units for its first full year of sales in the country. Notice also the VW Beetle up 135% to 10,004 sales, making it 4 Volkswagens in the Top 8, the Volvo V40 arriving directly at #10 (the only non-German in the Top 12!), the Audi A4 up 30%, Audi A1 up 13%, Audi A3 up 28% (!) and the BMW X3 finding its way into the year-end Top 20 for the very first time at #20.

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

Two years ago: Japan Imports Full Year 2011: VW Golf #1, now in overall Top 30!

Full Year 2013 Top 20 models and Top 47 All-brands Ranking Tables below.