Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Suzuki Ertiga in Ubud, Bali Indonesia December 2012

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

Another month above 100,000 registrations in Indonesia in April at 102,199 units, up a huge 33% year-on-year and bringing the year-to-date total to 398,121, up 22% on 2012. This is the 7th time in the last 11 months the Indonesian market breaks the 100,000 monthly unit-barrier whereas it had never happened before June 2012… No surprise in pole position: the Toyota Avanza still reigns supreme with 19,798 sales and 19.4% share, its highest in the last 12 months! Year-to-date, an astounding 68,362 Avanzas found a buyer in the country after just 4 months…

A batch of Toyota Etios ready to be exported from India to potentially Indonesia…

The big event is in 2nd place: for the second time in the last 3 months the Suzuki Ertiga manages to hold that spot at 5,917 units and 5.8%, an exceptional performance indeed and an indication that Suzuki’s replacement of the APV by the all-new Ertiga may turn out to be an all-out success. The Toyota Etios breaks into the Indonesian Top 10 for the first time, up 9 spots to #9 with 2,719 sales and 2.7%. For now the Honda Brio still leads the category at 5,024 units year-to-date even though it is out of the Top 20 this month, but it is interesting to notice that after just two months, Indonesia has become the 2nd market in the word to welcome the Etios in its Top 10 after South Africa.

Previous month: Indonesia March 2013: Daihatsu Xenia back with a vengeance

One year ago: Indonesia April 2012: Avanza rules – now sharing my photo album!

Full April 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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We could see Autobianchi return as early as 2014!

* See the Full article by clicking on the title! *

With the progression of Chinese carmakers worldwide, the rise and rise of low-cost brands following the tremendous success of Dacia over the last decade is one of the most fascinating mega-trends in the car industry at the moment. For example, my worldwide January roundup stressed the fact that Renault is only keeping afloat worldwide due to the success of its Dacia models, and monthly Chinese rankings show both low-cost brands Baojun and Venucia are making their mark.

Autobianchi Siena?

Last week, German website Autobild announced that Fiat could revive Autobianchi as its low-cost brand. For a while Innocenti was whispered around but it now seems like Autobianchi is the go. Created in 1955, Autobianchi was always priced higher than equivalent Fiat models and was used to test innovative concepts which later found their way into mainstream Fiat vehicles. Guess that will have to change now! The brand was integrated into Lancia in 1989 but survived in Italy until 1995 when production of the Y10 stopped. More on the Autobianchi brand here.

1977 Autobianchi A112 Abarth

According to Autobild, the first Autobianchi model would be built in Poland and Russia and based on the Brazilian Fiat Siena, itself built on the previous generation Fiat Palio’s platform. It will be a notchback sedan targeted at Eastern European markets to go full frontal against the Dacia Logan, with prices starting at 5,000 Euros. Autobild says if these plans come to fruition we could see the first low-cost Autobianchi cars hitting the road in late 2014, which is not so far off!

2013 Datsun grille

These news come as Nissan has confirmed they are reviving the Datsun brand as their low-cost option, to be officially launched later this year. Plans are now getting more precise: in addition to India, Indonesia and Russia which were announced last year, in February South Africa was confirmed as the 4th market where the Datsun brand will be revived.

The first low-cost Datsun?

As far as Russia is concerned, last week Nissan Russia CEO Francois Goupil de Bouille announced that “the first Datsun cars will roll in Russian cities in March 2014″, with plans to sell 100,000 Datsuns annually in Russia by 2016. There will be two Russian Datsun models to start with: a notchback sedan based on the Lada Kalina and Granta platforms and a hatchback model based on the previous generation Nissan Note.

Click on ‘Read more’ below for more details on Datsun’s return.

1968 Datsun 240Z

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Daihatsu Xenia in Bali, Indonesia December 2012

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 5 brands by clicking on the title! *

In March 95,939 new vehicles found a buyer in Indonesia, bringing the year-to-date total to 295,922 units, up a fantastic 18% on 2012 which was already a record year. If the Toyota Avanza keeps the lead by far with 14,333 sales and 14.9% share (albeit down from 16.2% in February and 18.1% in January), the rest of the ranking is completely reshuffled this month. Beaten by both the Suzuki Ertiga (now #5) and Toyota Innova (now #3) last month, the Daihatsu Xenia brilliantly reclaims its traditional 2nd spot in March thanks to 7,141 units and an excellent 7.4% market share, and is now also back to #2 year-to-date with 19,329 sales and 6.5% vs. 18,911 and 6.4% for the Innova.

Toyota Etios

The Daihatsu Gran Max pick-up delivers an excellent performance, up 3 spots on February to #4 at 3,857 units and 4%, as does the Honda Jazz also up 3 ranks to #6 with 3,668 sales and 3.8% and the Honda CR-V up one to #7 at 2,817 units and 2.9%. The Daihatsu Terios is up 5 to #10, the Honda Brio up 7 to #11 and the Toyota Etios makes its very first appearance within the Indonesian Top 20 at #18 with 1,289 sales and 1.3% share.

Previous month: Indonesia February 2013: Suzuki Ertiga up to 2nd place!

One year ago: Indonesia March 2012: Toyota Avanza and Innova in command

Full March 2013 Top 20 models and Top 5 brands Ranking Tables below.

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Suzuki Ertiga in Bali, Indonesia December 2012

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

Another outstanding month for new car sales in Indonesia after three consecutive record years in 2010, 2011 and 2012: February is at 103,279 registrations, the 6th time in the last 9 months whereas it had never happened before June 2012… This brings the year-to-date total just under 200,000 units at 199,983, an estimated increase of 20% over the same period in 2012 which could indicate another Full Year record around 1.3 million sales for 2013. Unsurprisingly, the Toyota Avanza leads the way with 16,760 sales and 16.2%. The surprise is in second place…

Honda CR-V in Bali, Indonesia December 2012

Whereas Toyota or Daihatsu had monopolised the podium in recent months, the Suzuki Ertiga is up 2 spots on an already record month of January to hit #2 with 6,784 sales and 6.6%. A very impressive feat that leads the Ertiga up to #3 year-to-date at 12,251 units and 6.1% vs. 13,818 and 6.9% for the Toyota Kijang Innova and 12,188 and 6.1% for the Daihatsu Xenia. Other great performers include the Honda CR-V up to #8, Toyota Hilux up to #16 and Honda Brio up to #18.

Previous month: Indonesia January 2013: Avanza #1, Suzuki Ertiga beats records

Previous year: Indonesia Full Year 2012: Toyota Avanza #1 in millionaire market

Previous photo album: Indonesia December 2012: It’s an Avanza-Xenia-invasion

Full February 2013 Top 20 models Ranking Table below.

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Toyota Avanza in Ubud, Bali Indonesia December 2012

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

Building on three consecutive record years in 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Indonesian new car market lodges another impressive month in January at 96,704 registrations. No surprises on top: the Toyota Avanza is sovereign again at an excellent 17,471 units and 18.1% share vs. 17.2% in 2012, while the Toyota Innova climbs into 2nd position with 7,383 sales and 7.6%, passing the Daihatsu Xenia at 5,905 units and 6.1%.

Suzuki Ertiga

The Suzuki Ertiga beats its volume and market share records in the country this month, up to #4 with 5,467 sales and 5.7%, its previous best being 5,115 and 4.8% last November. The Suzuki Carry Pick-up remains solid at #5 and 3.9%, the Nissan Grand Livina is in great shape at #6 and 3.6%, as is the Mitsubishi T120-SS Pick-up at #8, the Honda Jazz at #11 and 2.4% and Honda CR-V at #13 and 2%. Notice also the Ford Ranger making its first appearance in the Indonesian Top 20 at #19.

Previous post: Indonesia Full Year 2012: Toyota Avanza #1 in millionaire market

Previous photo report: Indonesia December 2012: It’s an Avanza-Xenia invasion… (photo report)

Full January 2013 Top 20 Ranking Table below.

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Gotta do what you gotta do when it rains… Daihatsu Xenia in Ubud, Bali Indonesia

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Eddy *

2012 will remain a very important year in the history of Indonesian car sales: for the first time ever, over 1 milion new vehicles were registered, with the market reaching a record 1,116,224 units, up a whopping 25% on 2011 and 46% on 2010 which were both already record years… Plus before 2012, never had the Indonesian new car market found itself above 100,000 monthly sales. It happened for the first time last June (101,743) and then 4 more times in the following 5 months: in July (new record 102,512), September (102,111), October (new record again at 106,806) and November (103,474). The Toyota Avanza is the best-selling model for the 7th year in a row as I shared with you in my last Indonesian photo report. It breaks both its annual volume record at 192,146 units (+18%) and its monthly sales record, twice, bringing it to 17,364 in March and 17,860 in November.

Run little dog, run! Nissan Evalia in Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Its twin the Daihatsu Xenia ranks #2 like in 2011 with 73,418 sales and 6.6%, up 10% while the Toyota Innova rounds up the podium at 71,685 units and 6.4%, up 31%. Perpetuating a long heritage dating back to the seventies, the Mitsubishi Truck Colt Diesel is #4 with 55,604 sales, followed by the Suzuki Carry and Daihatsu Gran Max Pick-ups. The Nissan Grand Livina is up 35% to #7 but the most impressive arrival in this year’s Indonesian Top 20 is the Suzuki Ertiga, landing directly at #8 with 34,074 sales and 3.1%, ahead of the Toyota Rush (+36%) and Yaris (+69%).

Honda CR-V in Ubud Bali, Indonesia

Notice also the Honda CR-V at 14,753 sales including a huge 2,551 in December which should place it within the Top 10 that month, the Honda Brio at 8,002 but peaking at #10 in September and the Nissan Evalia up to #6 in August but outside the year-end Top 25.

Previous post: Indonesia December 2012: It’s an Avanza-Xenia invasion… (photo report)

Previous month: Indonesia November 2012: Toyota Avanza breaks record

One year ago: Indonesia Full Year 2011: Toyota Avanza still #1 in record market

Full Year 2012 Top 25 Ranking Table below.

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Daihatsu Xenia

* See the entire article by clicking on the title! *

Over the last week I was lucky enough to spend some time in Bali, Indonesia, so I thought I would share with you my impressions and a little photo album, as a lot has happened since my last stay there in April. If then the new generations Toyota Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia were just starting to point their bonnets, this time they have well and truly taken ownership of Balinese streets…

One new gen Avanza after the other, a common sight already in Bali.

Given how tourist-friendly and ‘taxi oriented’ Bali is, I would say the car landscape is even more skewed towards MPVs than the rest of the country, and the Toyota Avanza/Xenia/Kijang Innova trio could easily hold over 50% of the Balinese new car market, vs. 30% in the whole of Indonesia so far in 2012… It won’t be long until the new generation Avanza-Xenia will outnumber the old one which has been on sale for nearly a decade, a fantastic achievement indeed.

Suzuki APV

Suzuki Ertiga

If Suzuki is planning to replace the hugely successful APV – Balinese streets are still filled with it – with the Ertiga, as 2012 sales figures would seem to indicate, it definitely still has some way to go. I did see a couple of Ertigas each day but it is surely not a flood yet. Suzuki also seem to gradually be losing its pick-up crown, with less Suzuki Carry pick-ups and more Daihatsu Gran Max roaming the streets delivering ice-cream to tourists craving it.

Toyota Kijang Pick-up: perfect for Balinese police.

1974 Mitsubishi Colt Pick-up

Having the opportunity to stay a little longer in the country I was able to get a better feel of the evolution of the Indonesian car market over the years, looking at the distribution of cars as a whole. Apart from the obvious successful generations of Toyota Kijang/Innova which was created specifically for Indonesia, there is a distinct heritage of Mitsubishi Colt – the Commercial Vehicle, not the hatchback – both as a van and pick-up.
Launch an MPV in Indonesia and it will succeed, even the… Mazda Biante! Seen one of these before?

I also noticed a very respectable number of Nissan Juke around, while the Nissan Evalia and new gen Honda CR-V are both starting to be visible. All-in-all, if this booming market is currently totally dominated by Japanese brands (92% of sales so far in 2012!), it is because they have understood clearly what format works in Indonesia: MPV MPV MPV of all sizes. Cue the Suzuki Estilo, Honda Freed, Nissan Elgrand, Toyota Alphard, Mazda 8 and Biante.

Why not introduce the Modus in Indonesia (as a Nissan) to give it a much-needed second wind?

Yes I am talking to you Chinese carmakers… I only saw one lonely Geely Panda during the whole time I was there. Seems like a dream market for the entire Wuling range doesn’t it? On a different note, when is Renault launching the Dacia Lodgy in Indonesia? It should be there already… and the Dokker, or the Logan Pick-up. Plus a no-frills version of the Modus – there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Renault’s unloved child…

Previous month: Indonesia November 2012: Toyota Avanza breaks record

Previous year: Indonesia Full Year 2011: Toyota Avanza still #1 in record market

More pictures below.

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Toyota Avanza in Ubud, Bali Indonesia

* See the Top 10 best-selling models and Top 8 brands by clicking on the title! Thanks Eddy *

The Indonesian new car market continues on its record run this year and lodges a 100,000+ sales month for the 5th time in the last 6 months at 103,474 units, the 2nd biggest monthly tally after October 2012 (106,806). The impressive fact is before last June, never had Indonesian car sales found themselves above 100,000 units/month, ever. Bonus in November: the year-to-date total breaks the historical 1-million sales barrier for the first time at 1,026,606 units, and there is one month to go still in 2012…

Daihatsu Xenia in Ubud, Bali Indonesia

This month the Avanza hits 17,860 sales and 17.3% share, an all-time record, beating the 17,364 it sold last March. After 11 months in 2012, the Avanza’s total stands at 175,049 units, up 18% on the same period in 2011 when it sold 148,297 and again an all-time record for any model in the country. Its twin the Daihatsu Xenia ranks #2 both in November with 6,452 sales and 6.2% and year-to-date at 67,984 units and 6.6%, now above the Toyota Innova at 67,009 and 6.5%. All-in-all, Avanza+Xenia account for almost 24% of the Indonesian market this year…

Toyota Innova in Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Ubud, Bali Indonesia December 2012. Picture by my dear Mum and Dad.

Good performances of the Daihatsu Gran Max Pick-up at #4, the Toyota Yaris breaking its monthly volume record at 2,736 sales and #8, the Honda Jazz up 7 spots on October to #10 at 2,535 units and the Honda CR-V at 1,814 sales. Notice also the Honda Brio at 1.124 units and 1.1%. Brand-wise, Toyota sold 36,996 cars in Indonesia in November for a 35.8% market share, up 3% on last month when it sold 35,855.

Typical car landscape in Bali, Indonesia. From right to left: old gen Toyota Kijang, 2nd gen Toyota Avanza, Suzuki APV, old gen Toyota Kijang and 1st gen Toyota Avanza.

Year-to-date, Toyota leads by far with 370,987 sales and 34.1% share, above Daihatsu at 150,183 and 14.6%, Mitsubishi at 138,778 and 13.5% and Suzuki at 117,927 and 11.5%. Honda, Nissan, Isuzu and Mazda follow.

Previous post: Indonesia: 1976-2011 Historical Info now available!

Previous month: Indonesia October 2012: Honda CR-V shines in record month

One year ago: Indonesia November 2011: Suzuki APV up to #3, Nissan Juke #8

Full November 2012 Top 10 models and Top 8 brands Ranking Tables below.

Read more…

1977 Toyota Kijang

* See the direct links to 6 historical articles by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Eddy *

Thanks to Eddy I can now share with you information on the Indonesian new car market since 1976! From 1976 to 2004 we only have annual sales but these actually show fascinating fluctuations that Eddy was kind enough to explain to me. The period starts with very strong growth: Indonesian new vehicle sales go from 72,000 in 1976 to 208,000 in 1981. We then have to wait until 1990 to see that record broken at 274,000 units, before another weak period until 1993. In 1994 the market is up a huge 53% to reach a record 322,000 units, improved further in 1995 at 341,000 and again in 1997 at 387,000.

1981 Toyota Kijang. Picture courtesy of www.vehibase.com

The combination of the South-East Asian economic crisis that saw the Indonesian currency devaluate to its lowest ever, rampant inflation, a military coup and social unrest saw the Indonesian new vehicle market drop by a horrendous 85% in 1998 to just 58,303 units, its lowest in at least 22 years… However sales swiftly bounced back to 93,814 in 1999 (+61%) and an amazing 300,965 units in 2000 (+221%!). In 2004 and 2005 the market broke its record again at 483,148 then 533,917 registrations, before the reduction of fuel subsidies and a tax hike brought it down by 40% in 2006.

1986 Toyota Kijang and 2009 Toyota Kijang Innova

The record march resumes in 2008 at 603,774 sales, only interrupted by the world financial crisis in 2009 (-20%), then continues in 2010 at 764,910 units and in 2011 at 894,164 registrations. In 2012 and for the first time in the history of automobile in Indonesia, new vehicle sales in the country will pass the one million mark, with the year-end total forecast to hit 1.12 million.

Toyota Avanza in Ubud, Bali Indonesia April 2012

Indonesia is an MPV country and Toyota has dominated the market for as long as I have data for. The Japanese manufacturer launched the Kijang (Indonesian for ‘deer’) in 1977 specifically for the Indonesian market and it is reasonable to assume that the model has dominated local sales most years up until 2005 when the Kijang Innova is officially #1, before the Avanza took the reigns in 2006 and hasn’t looked back since… You can track the entire history of the Toyota Kijang here.

1976-2012 Indonesia total sales and Direct links to 7 Indonesian Historical posts below.

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Toyota Avanza

* Now updated with 2012 year-to-date actuals! Many thanks to Eddy for the tip *

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

The Indonesian new car market continues to progress at an incredible pace and breaks its monthly volume record for the 4th time this year after May (95,499), June (101,743) and July (102,512), reaching 106,806 registrations in October… The year-to-date total now stands at 923,128 and will break the historical million milestone for the first time ever in Indonesia in a calendar year as soon as next month.

The Toyota Avanza keeps the lead in October by far, even reaching its strongest market share since last May at 15.9% thanks to 16,983 sales. It is followed by its twin the Daihatsu Xenia at 6,463 units and 6.1% and the Toyota Innova with 6,104 sales and 5.7%. The Suzuki Ertiga continues its fantastic progression, beating its monthly volume and share records again this month at 5,115 units and 4.8% but down to #5 as the Suzuki Carry Pick-up sells 3 units more…

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V, now boosted by the new generation available across the entire country, is up from outside the Top 20 in September to a brilliant 8th place this month with 2,882 sales and 2.7% while the Suzuki APV Pick-up also shines at #10 and 2,716 units. Notice also the Honda Brio down 6 spots to #16. Brand-wise, Toyota is king at 33.6% share, followed by Suzuki (thanks to the Ertiga) at 14.7%, Mitsubishi at 14%, Daihatsu at 13.9% and Honda at 8.6%. Year-to-date, Daihatsu is #2, Suzuki #4, Nissan #5 and Geely #18.

Previous month: Indonesia September 2012: Honda Brio in Top 10!

Previous year: Indonesia Full Year 2011: Toyota Avanza still #1 in record market

Full October 2012 and YTD Top 20 models and YTD Top 20 brands Ranking Tables below.

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