Japan Imports Q4 2013: VW Golf breaks volume record!

Never had Japanese customers bought that many VW Golf in 3 months!

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 40 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

* The Full Year 2013 report is here! *

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: 88,260 imports found a buyer in Japan over the period, bringing the final 2013 total to 346,133, up 9% on 2012. Now the the new generation has spread in Volkswagen dealerships across the country, the VW Golf is up a mammoth 155% year-on-year over the last quarter of 2013 to reach 9,144 sales, to my knowledge the highest quarterly volume ever reached by an imported model in Japan! No less. Needless to say the Golf reinforces its overall lead over the full year thanks to this spectacular performance.

Mercedes A-Class

The BMW 3 Series also shines in 2nd place, up 38% year-on-year to 5,470 sales, while the Mini rounds up the podium like in the full year at 4,589 units, up 12% on Q4 2012. The Mercedes A-Class manages to hold on the 4th spot it held in Q3 thanks to 3,950 sales, the VW Polo is back up 4 spots to #5 and the VW Up back up two to #6 but down 25% year-on-year. Excellent showing of the BMW 1 Series up 3 ranks to #8, while the Volvo V40 is the only non-German model in the Top 10 at #10, down 5 spots on Q3. Notice also the Mercedes S-Class brilliantly up to #14 with 1,623 sales, the Audi A3 back inside the Top 20 at #15, the Fiat 500 up to #17 and the Mercedes CLA at #20.

Previous post: Japan Imports Q3 2013: Mercedes A, CLA-Class and Volvo V40 shine

One year ago: Japan Imports Q4 2012: Mercedes C-Class #1, VW Up! lands at #4

Full Q4 2013 Top 20 models and December Top 40 brands Ranking Tables below.