Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Chery MVM315

* See the Top 15 most produced local models by clicking on the title! *

As is the tradition for Iran only production data is available, however this is a good indication of car sales in the country as high import duties limit sales of imported vehicles. April 2013 roughly corresponds to Farvardin, the first month of the year 1392 in the Persian calendar. Traditionally the weakest month of the year, this year Farvardin production data tests new lows: down a horrendous 60% year-on-year to just 22,513 units, only a few units more than the sales of the Saipa Pride one year ago…now down 53% to just under 10,000 units at 9,998 – the first time the Pride falls below 10,000 monthly units produced since the creation of BestSellingCarsBlog.

Being a very weak month, the models ranking is a lot more volatile: we have the Renault Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) up to a brilliant 2nd place thanks to 2,204 units produced (-57%) followed by the Peugeot 405 at 1,653 (-77%). Exceptional performance of the Chery MVM315 (aka Fulwin 2/Bonus) up to #4 with 1,627 units, while the Chery MVM350 (aka A5) is up to #5 at 1,095 units (+61%). The Saipa Tiba is up 96% year-on-year to #7 and we welcome a new model in the ranking, the Saipa X100 which is a combination of the Saipa 111, 131, 132 and 141 at #11 with 430 sales.

Previous month: Iran March 2013: Iran Khodro Runna continues to progress

One year ago: Iran April 2012: Peugeot withdraws, Renault wins

Full Farvardin 1392/April 2013 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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Iran Khodro Runna – with a Paykan in the background

* See the Top 19 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

Iran uses the Persian calendar in which March 2013 roughly corresponds to Bahman, the last month of the year 1391. Over that period 71,028 new vehicles were produced in the country, a 34% year-on-year drop, to be compared with -37% in February, -45% in January and -53% in December, confirming the situation could slowly be getting back to normal for the Iranian new car market. The Saipa Pride remains far above the rest of the cars produced in the country but it is dropping 41% year-on-year to 21,844 units, finishing the year 1391 at 276,992 units, down 55% on 1390. The Iran Khodro Samand is also faring worse than average this month at -31% to 10,675 units, but is down a more clement 21% over the full year 1391 to 110,479 units.

The Peugeot Pars remains at a solid third position this month thanks to 8,105 units produced, down only 7% year-on-year and above the 5th place it holds over the Full Year. The Peugeot 405 is down 60% at #4 this month and down 40% at #3 this year while the Renault Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) is down an ok 22% at #5 this month vs. -14% and #4 over the Full Year. In the meantime, the Iran Khodro Runna continues to improve its production rate month after month, reaching a record 3,650 units in March, double its score of 4 months ago.

Previous month: Iran February 2013: Peugeot Pars and Lifan 620 shine

One year ago: Iran March 2012: Last good showing for Peugeot

Full March 2013 Top 19 Ranking Table below.

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Peugeot Pars

* See the Top 18 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

In the Persian calendar used in Iran, February 2013 roughly corresponds to Bahman, the 11th month of the year 1391. Over that period only 63,039 new vehicles were produced in the country, a 37% year-on-year drop, to be compared to -45% last month and -53% the month before so the situation is slowly but surely getting better for the Iranian new car market. Year-to-date with only one month to go in the year 1391, the total production is 707,120 units, down 45% on 1390. However the traditional leader the Saipa Pride is suffering more than most, with its production down 60% year-on-year to just 16,989 units, by far its lowest monthly figure since I have started tracking monthly data for Iran almost 2 years ago.

Lifan 620

The Pride’s issues are in part due to one of the 3 Saipa factories apparently stopping all production this month, which also had the effect of bringing the Saipa Tiba to a standstill with absolutely no unite produced in Bahman… Reversely the Iran Khodro Samand is in great shape, up 8% year-on-year to 11,670 units, its highest monthly figure in almost a year, while the Peugeot Pars is doing even better at +14% in third place with 9,405 units. The Iran Khodro Runna celebrates its 10th consecutive record month at #6 with 3,269 units and the Lifan 620 jumps into the Top 10 at 1,084 units, up 76% year-on-year.

Previous month: Iran January 2013: Iran Khodro Samand resists

One year ago: Iran February 2012: Peugeot Pars gets a kick up

Full February 2013/Bahman 1391 Top 18 Ranking Table below. Read more…

Iran Khodro Samand

* See the Top 18 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

January 2013 roughly equals to Dey, the 10th month in the year 1391 of the Persian calendar. Over the period only 64,984 new vehicles were produced, a 45% year-on-year drop (to be compared to -53% last month) which brings the year-to-date total to 644,081 units, down 46% year-on-year. If there is no surprises atop the ranking with the Sapia Pride still reigning supreme but down a harsh 53% to 23,129 units, in second place the Iran Khodro Samand displays unusual resistance: down just 3% to 10,999 units.

It is now nipping at the Peugeot 405 in the year-to-date ranking with 88,134 units (-30%) vs. 89,874 (-44%). At #4, the Peugeot Pars is down just 16% this month to 7,137 units, getting it much closer to the 405 at 7,617 units, down 53%. The Saipa Tiba jumps back ahead of the Iran Khodro Runna at 3,172 units vs. 2,774 which is nevertheless a new record for the Runna. Strangely, all Chery models seem to have had their sales frozen from last month…

Previous month: Iran December 2012: Iran Khodro Runna #6, now including Chery models

One year ago: Iran January 2012: Peugeot 206 and Renault Tondar 90 progress

Full Dey 1391/January 2013 Top 18 Ranking Table below.

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Chery MVM315

* See the Top 17 most produced models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Omid *

December 2012 corresponds roughly to the month of Azar in the year 1391 of the Persian calendar, and over the period only 60,869 vehicles were produced, a 53% year-on-year drop and bringing the year-to-date total to 579,097 units after 9 months, down 46% year-on-year. Given this is not the end of the Persian year there won’t be a Full Year summary article (yet) for Iran – we’ll have to wait until early April. Very mixed fortunes once again within the models ranking this month: the Saipa Pride is still #1 but drops below 20,000 monthly units for the third time in the last 5 months at 19,287, down 65% year-on-year.

Iran Khodro Runna

The Iran Khodro Samand is back up to #2 with 9,561 units, down just 17%, and is followed by the Peugeot 405 at 8,217 units (-50%), Peugeot Pars at 7,702 (only -1%!) and the Renault Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) at 6,710, down 20%. The Iran Khodro Runna continues to gear up: it is at +46% and up one spot on November at #6 to break the 2,000 monthly units milestone for the first time at 2,628. Reversely the Saipa Tiba is down 47% year-on-year to 1,852 units at #7.

Chery MVM530

Finally, thanks to a tip from Omid, the Iranian ranking now includes all Chery models produced locally by Modiran. The all-new for 1391 Chery MVM315 aka Fulwin 2/Bonus ranks #8 with 1,627 units, while the MVM530 aka Chery A5 is #9 at 1,095 units, the MVMX33 aka Chery Tiggo is #10 with 636 units and the MVM110 aka Chery QQ is #12 at 403 units.

Previous month: Iran November 2012: Renault Tondar 90 and Lifan 620 shine

One year ago: Iran December 2011: Peugeot 206 back in 2nd place

Full Azar 1391 / December 2012 Top 17 Ranking Table below.

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Renault Tondar 90

* See the Top 15 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

November 2012 roughly corresponds to Aban 1391 in the Persian calendar, and during that period just 60,470 new cars were produced in Iran, a steep 56% year-on-year drop, but an improvement on the -66% experienced 2 months ago. Year-to-date after 8 months in the Persian year 1391, only 518,228 vehicles have been produced, a 46% fall on the same period last year. It doesn’t look like Peugeot is thinking about rebooting its Iranian production now that the Peugeot-General Motors alliance seems to be on the rocks, with the 206′s production stuck at 8 units. However the Peugeot Pars is down just 38% to climb one spot to #4 and pass the 405 (-76%) as Peugeot’s most produced model in the country.

Lifan 620

The Sapia Pride still leads the way but is down 61% to 22,707 units while Renault comes out winning again: the Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) reaches a record 2nd place thanks to 8,369 units, down 10% year-on-year, and the Renault Megane is down just 5% at #9. Notice also the Saipa Tiba down 19% to 2,741 units at #6, the Iran Khodro Runna continuing its production ramp up at +136% on October to a record 1,802 units and the Lifan 620 reappearing in the ranking at a brilliant 8th place with 1,084 units, up 82% year-on-year.

Previous month: Iran October 2012: Iran Khodro Runna and Great Wall Voleex C30 up

One year ago: Iran November 2011: Peugeot 405 now #2 year-to-date

Full November 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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Iran Khodro Runna

* See the Top 15 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

In Mehr 1391, roughly equivalent to October 2012 in the Persian calendar, 61,336 new cars were produced in Iran, a 55% year-on-year drop, a slight improvement on the -66% experienced last month. Year-to-date after 7 months in the Persian year 1391, only 457,758 vehicles have been produced, a 44% drop on the same period last year. This month Peugeot’s production of the 206 has stopped: only 3 units came out of the Iranian production line. The Peugeot 405 is down 63% but the Pars is down ‘just’ 45% compared to -83% last month. Now that the Peugeot-General Motors alliance seems to be on the rocks, Peugeot could well reboot its production in Iran. Answer in the next few months…

Saipa Tiba

Still in the lead by far, the Saipa Pride is down ‘just’ 53% this month at 27,452 units produced, compared to -67% in September. For the first time since last April, the Iran Khodro Samand is back up to 2nd place with 8,532 units, down 31%. The Peugeot 405 is down to #3, followed by the Renault Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) at 6,880 units, down only 18%. The Saipa Tiba is down one spot on September to #6 but up 81% to 2,560 units, its strongest monthly production figure since last January.

The Iran Khodro Runna continues to steadily increase its production rate month after month: it is now up 60% on September to a record 765 units, meaning it ranks #9 in the most produced models in Iran’s list. The other successful model this month is the Great Wall Voleex C30, up 123% on last month to #10 and 209 units, its strongest ever monthly production figure in Iran and its first time in the Iranian Top 10!

Previous month: Iran September 2012: Renault winner in market down 66%

One year ago: Iran October 2011: Peugeot 405 and Pars in good shape

Full October 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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Iran Khodro Runna

* See the Top 15 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

Iranian production figures for the month of Shahrivar 1391, roughly equivalent to September 2012 in the Persian calendar, show a drop of 66% compared to a year ago with a total of just 45,550 units produced. Year-to-date after 6 months in the Persian year 1391, only 396,422 vehicles have been produced, a 42% drop year-on-year. This month Peugeot’s production stop in Iran is really apparent – the 206 is down 98% year-on-year – as well as an intensification of local manufacturers Saipa and Iran Khodro’s slowdowns as a reaction to the government’s setting of prices for domestic cars…

Renault Megane

For the 2nd month in a row the Saipa Pride is below 20,000 units produced at only 18,169, down 69% year-on-year. The Peugeot 405 is #2 again but its production is down 60% to 6,681 units. Renault is the big winner in this shaky context: the Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) is down ‘only’ 37% to 5,558 units and climbs onto the Iranian podium for the very first time, passing the Iran Khodro Samand down 60% to #4 and 5,017 units.

Great Wall Voleex C30

Below, the Saipa Tiba is up 2 spots on August to a best-ever 5th place in spite of production down 52% to 1,413 units. Below the Peugeot Pars down 83%, the Renault Megane is the only model to see its production rise year-on-year, up 12% to 1,005 units. The Iran Khodro Runna cranks up its production once again and reaches 479 units this month, nearly double its August score and up one spot to #8. 910 Runnas have now been produced this Persian year. Notice also the Great Wall Voleex C30 up 3 ranks on last month to #12 with 91 units.

Previous month: Iran August 2012: Saipa Pride below 20,000 units, Iran Khodro Runna #9

One year ago: Iran September 2011: Saipa Pride excels, Peugeot 207i gears up

Full September 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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Saipa Pride 111

* See the Top 15 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

As is now the tradition on BSCB we go through local Iranian production figures as sales information is not available, however this should portray a relatively accurate picture of car sales in the country as high import duties and the weakness of the local currency limits sales of other vehicles. Another free fall month, with production down 42% year-on-year during the month of Mordad 1391, approximately equivalent to August 2012 in the Persian calendar. The year-to-date total after 5 months in the Persian year 1391 stands at 350,703 units, down 37% on 1390 (a correction has been made by ivma.ir).

For the first time since we started following the Iranian car market monthly, the Saipa Pride falls below 20,000 units produced at 19,967, down 57% year-on-year and bringing its year-to-date total to 127,415 units, down exactly 50% on 1390. The Peugeot 405 is accelerating its fall now that Peugeot has stopped importing parts from France at -20% to 8,468 units but stays #2 ahead of the Iran Khodro Samand doing better at -8%. Production of the formerly highly successful Peugeot 206 has now nearly stopped, down 76% year-on-year to 2,570 units and #6 this month.

In the meantime, Iran Khodro continues to crank up the production of the Runna, now up to 249 units or 144% better than last month and up one spot to #9 overall. Year-to-date, 432 Runna have been produced. One odd unit of Iran Khodro Dena has also been produced this month, and it’s unclear whether the model will actually go into mass production at this stage. Notice finally the Renault Megane up 214% to #8 and 1,478 units and the Great Wall Voleex C30 stable at #15 with 38 units.

Previous month: Iran July 2012: Iran Khodro Runna #10 in contracting market

One year ago: Iran August 2011: Saipa Pride invincible

Full August 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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Iran Khodro Runna

* See the Top 15 most produced models by clicking on the title! *

As usual we explore local production figures for the Iranian market as sales data is not available, however this should represent a relatively accurate picture of car sales in the country as high import duties and the weakness of the local currency limits sales of other vehicles. 2012 is shaping up to be a pretty eventful year for car sales in Iran. First Peugeot announced it would be progressively withdrawing from the market, now Saipa halves its production as a reaction to the government’s setting of prices for domestic cars, judged too low in the wake of the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial vs. the US dollar…

As a result, only 69,797 cars were produced during the month of Tir 1391, roughly equivalent to July 2012 in the Iranian calendar, a 43% year-on-year fall. Year-to-date after 4 months of the year 1391, the Iranian industry is down 39% to 278,578 units. The Saipa Pride is still the favourite model in Iran but with only 24,001 units produced this month it is down a massive 57% year-on-year and 48% year-to-date at 107,448. In fact the entire Top 6 most produced models is unchanged vs. June but the y-o-y variations are strikingly different.

The Peugeot 405 stays #2 but has now started to fall at -10% to 12,762 units, ahead of the Iran Khodro Samand down 20%, the Renault Tondar 90 (aka Dacia Logan) down 7%, the Peugeot Pars down 16% and the Peugeot 206 down 51% to 4,482. Only the Renault Megane bucks the trend, up 91% to 1,854 unit this month. The other Saipa model, the Tiba, falls even harder than the Pride at -68% to #9.

Iran Khodro Runna

There is a newcomer in the Top 10 this month: 3 long years after its original presentation, the Iran Khodro Runna, based on a Peugeot 206 sedan, has started to gear up its production albeit very very slowly: from 57 units produced at #15 in June, it is now up to 103 at #10… Still a long way to go. For its part the Great Wall Voleex C30 is down 4 spots to #15 with 60 units.

Previous month: Iran June 2012: Great Wall Voleex C30 makes its first appearance

One year ago: Iran July 2011: Tondar 90 and Iran Khodro Samand shine

Full July 2012 Top 15 Ranking Table below.

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