Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Suzuki Mehran (Indian version). Picture by njyo, all rights reserved.

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Normally I only update Pakistan new car sales data every quarter as the market is usually very stable, but these last couple of months have been so disruptive it deserved an early catch-up. Note the data, provided by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, is restricted to models produced locally, however this is a pretty accurate representation of the most popular cars in the country as imports are very limited. In August, new car sales are down 14% year-on-year to 10,385 units. Over the first 8 months of 2012 total sales stand at 118,015 units, still up a healthy 9% year-on-year.

In July, local production of the normally very popular Suzuki Alto stopped, as well as that of the Daihatsu Cuore, with the Honda Civic stopping in August. It is still unclear whether this is a temporary halt or a definitive stop (if you live in Pakistan and/or have more information on this please get in touch) but the certainty is it has already had an impact on the models ranking, with the above models all but disappearing from the ladder. The Toyota Corolla stays on top with 2,800 sales and 27% in August but with production transfers from the Alto, the antediluvian Suzuki Mehran is up to a fantastic 25.2% share this month thanks to 2,615 units sold.

Other changes include the Suzuki Cultus shooting up to third place with 1,173 sales and 11.3% vs. #6 and 7.6% year-to-date, the Honda City up to #4 at 1,0340 units and 10% share (after ranking #3 in July) vs. #7 with 4.3% year-to-date, and the Suzuki Swift up to 5.9% share vs. 4.3% year-to-date. Reversely, the Suzuki Bolan is down from #2 in June to #5 in August and the Suzuki Ravi is down to #6.

Previous post: Pakistan June 2012: Honda City up to #6

Previous year: Pakistan Full Year 2011: Toyota Corolla leads, Suzuki Mehran up

Full August 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Honda City

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Every quarter I give you an update on the Pakistani new car market thanks to the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association. Note the data is restricted to models produced locally, however this is a pretty accurate representation of the most popular cars in the country as imports are very limited. In June new car sales are up a huge 155% year-on-year to 19,156 units, as June 2011 was an exceptionally low month at only 7,517 sales. Over the first half of 2012 total sales stand at 97,195 units, up a very healthy 24% year-on-year.

No surprise on top: the Toyota Corolla holds the pole position again with 4,487 sales and 23.4% in June, slightly lower than its 26.9% share year-to-date. Very solid month for the Suzuki Bolan: it takes advantage of a weak showing by the Suzuki Mehran (#3 at 13.9% vs. 18.6 year-to-date) to take the 2nd position thanks to 2,753 sales and 14.4% share. The Suzuki Alto and Ravi follow at 2,075 and 2,042 sales respectively.

After seeing its local production grind to a halt from December 2011 to March 2012 due to the Thailand flood preventing the import of CKD kits, the Honda City is back in shape and catching up on lost time: after selling 155 units in April and 1,050 in May, it delivers 1,685 sales in June for an exceptional 8.8% market share in 6th place, potentially the nameplate’s strongest ever showing in Pakistan…

Previous post: Pakistan March 2012: Corolla #1, Suzuki Bolan and Alto up

One year ago: Pakistan June 2011: Toyota Corolla close to 38% share!

Full June and 6 months 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Toyota Corolla. Picture by Adnan Akh, all rights reserved.

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

Car sales in Pakistan are up 6% year-on-year at 16,678 registrations with the first 3 months of the year at +7% and 46,623 units. Only sales of models produced locally are accounted for, which is a good estimate of the best-selling models in the country as imports are limited. Like in 2011 the Toyota Corolla leads the way both in March with 3,774 sales and 22.6% share (+11% on 2011) and year-to-date at 12,794 units and 27.4% (+6%).

Suzuki Bolan

Suzuki Alto

The 28 year-old Suzuki Mehran resists in 2nd place in March with 3,116 sales and 18.7% (+17%) and year-to-date at 8,569 units and 18.4% (+14%). Excellent start of the year for the Suzuki Bolan up a massive 51% year-on-year to #3 with 2,435 sales and 14.6% share and 13.5% year-to-date, and for the Suzuki Alto at #4 in March and #5 year-to-date at 5,039 units and 10.8%, up 39% on 2011.

Previous post: Pakistan Full Year 2011: Toyota Corolla leads, Suzuki Mehran up

One year ago: Pakistan March 2011: Suzuki Alto up to #3

Full March 2012 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Toyota Corolla. Picture by Adnan Khan. All rights reserved.

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

In Pakistan only sales of models produced locally are accounted for, which is actually a pretty accurate representation of the Pakistani market as imports are very limited. In 2011, the Pakistani consumers bought 160,342 models produced in the country, up 8% on 2010. That’s one new car for 1,112 inhabitants (vs. 1 for 524 in India and 1 for 71 in China).

For the third year in a row the Toyota Corolla is the best-selling model in Pakistan, however its sales went down by 4% this year to a still very respectable 42,414 units and a mammoth 26.5% market share. The Suzuki Mehran, a 1984 Suzuki Alto, is actually up in 2011 in spite of its great age at +28% to 29,542 sales and 18.4% share.

Suzuki Mehran. Picture by Bilal Khan. All rights reserved.

The Suzuki Bolan (aka Carry) is up one spot and 23% on 2010 to #3 at 15,676 units and 9.8%, passing the Suzuki Ravi pick-up at 14,973 sales and 9.3% (+5%). The Suzuki Alto (+12%) and Cultus (+3%) exchange positions, ahead of the Honda City (-12%) and Suzuki Swift up 2 ranks and 53% to #8 at 5,855 units and 3.7% share.

Previous post: Pakistan September 2011: Suzuki Mehran and Honda City shine

Previous year: Pakistan Full Year 2010: Toyota Corolla #1 at 30% share

Full Year 2011 and December 2011 Top 10 Ranking Tables below.

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Honda City

* See the Top 10 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

Pakistani car sales are up a very healthy 21% in September at 14,669 registrations, bringing the 2011 year-t0-date total up 7% at 122,092 units. The Toyota Corolla is leading the pack again albeit with a slightly lower share, still a huge 23.7% in September and 27.1% year-to-date.

Suzuki Mehran

The Suzuki Mehran (a 1984 Maruti 800) is on the up at 2,900 sales this month for an excellent 20.7% share, to be compared with 17.2% year-to-date. Other models in good shape this month are the Suzuki Bolan at #3 with 1,314 sales and 9.4%, the Honda City up to #5 at 1,087 units and 7.8% and the Honda Civic at #8 with 556 sales and 5.8%.

Previous post: see the Pakistani June 2011 Top 10 best-selling models here.

Full September 2011 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Toyota Corolla. Picture courtesy of motors.pk

Every quarter I update you on where the Pakistani new car market is at, so it is time for the first half 2011 figures. June was particularly weak at 7,517 sales, and sales were down slightly over the first semester at -2% and 78,398 units. The Toyota Corolla has a stellar month in June at 2,838 sales and 37.8% share, vs 28.6% over H1 2011 and 31.7% over H1 2010.

The rest of the models ranking is turned upside down by the weak volume of sales in June. While the Suzuki Mehran keeps its 2nd place, it only holds 10.6% of the Pakistani market this month vs. 16.1% over 6 months 2011. The Toyota Hilux is up 8 spots to an exceptional 3rd place with 569 sales (7.6%) and the Honda City is up to #4 with 7.3%.

Previous post: see the March 2011 Top 10 here.

Full June and H1 2011 Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Official sales data from the Pakistan Automobile Manufacturers Association indicate that the Toyota Corolla is still by far the best-selling car in the country this month with 3,397 sales and 21.6% share. It is also leader year-to-date at 12,103 units and 27.7%.

The Suzuki Mehran (aka Maruti 800) stays 2nd at 2,654 sales and a strong 16.9% share, or 17.1% year-to-date, compared to 15.6% in 2010. Excellent performance of the Suzuki Alto, climbing onto the podium in March at 1,957 sales and 12.5%. It is #5 year-to-date at 8.3% share.

The Suzuki Bolan follows in 4th, and the Honda City has a great year so far with 3,006 sales and 6.9% year-to-date, one percentage point above its 2010 share.

Full Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Official Pakistani car sales figures only take into consideration the models produced locally, which gives a pretty good idea of actual car sales given imports are very limited. Nearly 1 in every 3 new cars sold in the country is a Toyota Corolla! It totals 44,098 sales over the year for a 29.7% market share.

No less than 5 Suzukis follow, on top of which the veteran Suzuki Mehran (a 1988 Maruti 800), still holding very well for its age at 23,117 sales and 15.6%, and the pick-up Ravi grabbing nearly 10% of the Pakistani market in 3rd. The Suzuki Bolan (aka Carry) is 4th with 12,701 sales and 8.6% ahead of the Alto and Cultus.

Top 6 Pakistani best-sellers in pictures and Full Top 10 Ranking Table below.

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Suzuki Mehran

The Pakistan Automobile Manufacturers Association compiles car production figures since 1995 and sales of models produced locally since 1998. Given the restrictions on imports, these figures give a pretty accurate picture of the best selling models in the country. The Pakistani car market structure has been very stable throughout the years and only two models have ever been #1 since 1995.

The 1988 Suzuki Mehran (a first generation Suzuki Alto) has been the longest-running leader of the Pakistani car market, being the best selling car in the country from 1995 to 1999 and 2001 to 2008, starting at 8,986 units produced in 1995-1996 and peaking at 37,007 sales in 2007-2008.

Toyota Corolla

The only other model to lead the Pakistani models ranking is the Toyota Corolla, #1 in 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. It started at 4,731 units produced in 1995-1996 and finished with 43,510 sales in 2009-2010.

Other successful models include the Suzuki Cultus, a first generation Suzuki Swift (29,837 sales in 2006-2007), Suzuki Alto (21,988 sales in 2006-2007), Suzuki Bolan (17,209 in 2007-2008), Honda City (16,136 in 2005-2006), Suzuki Ravi (13,211 in 2009-2010), Daihatsu Cuore (12,776 in 2006-2007) and Honda Civic (12,352 in 2004-2005).

Link to all figures from 1995 to 2009 below.

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