Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

The Fiat Palio/Siena is the best-selling Italian model worldwide in 2012.

* See the Top 20 best-selling Italian models worldwide by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Only the ranking table for now – more commentaries will follow shortly. What is striking in this ranking is the impact of South America in general and Brazil in particular in Fiat worldwide sales: the Fiat Palio/Siena is the best-selling Italian model worldwide ahead of the Fiat Uno and Fiat 500 while the Fiat Punto is #4 and the Fiat Panda, #1 in Italy for the first time last year, is only #5.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 20 Italian models Ranking Table below.

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee is #18 US model worldwide in 2012.

* See the Top 50 best-selling US models worldwide by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

As I am travelling at the moment for now I only give you the ranking table, more commentary will follow shortly. I know the split of Opel/Chevrolet and Ford into German or American brands has created a bit debate on here which is always very healthy! So feel free to continue on this article, where all Ford models are listed.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 50 US models Ranking Table below.

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I say the Opel Zafira is German. What do you think?

* See the Top 50 best-selling German models by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

We continue to slice up the worldwide models ranking by nationality, and this time let’s look at German models. Now I have faced a little bit or a conundrum here as Opel is a German brand but 100% owned by General Motors, so arguably all Opel models should sit in the US ranking. I’ve chosen to meet halfway, and the Opel models with over 50% of their sales under the Opel brand and ranked here (Corsa, Meriva, Zafira). The ones with over 50% under the Chevrolet brand will appear in the US ranking (Astra, Insignia).

The VW Golf missed the #1 German spot worldwide by 32,000 sales.

With this cleared up, it’s no surprise to see the ranking dominated by Volkswagen but it is a surprise to see the Passat in the top spot (and #7 overall) with 782,694 sales, ahead of the Golf at 750,466, the Polo at 733,678, the Jetta/Bora/Clasico/Sagitar at 552,937 and the Gol at 482,594.

The BMW 3 Series is #10 German worldwide in 2012

The first non-VW is the Opel/Chevrolet Corsa at #6 and #29 overall with 455,385 units, followed by the BMW 3 Series at #8 and #36 with 406,752 sales and the Mercedes C-Class at #9 and #46 with 346,204 units. Notice also the BMW 5 Series at #10, Audi A4 at #11, Audi A6 at #12, Mercedes E-Class at #14, VW Lavida at #15 even though it is only sold in China, BMW 1 Series at #16, and Audi Q5 at #19.

VW CC

Further down, the BMW X3 ranks #25 German model worldwide just above its little brother the BMW X1 at #26, while the VW CC takes the 32nd spot, the Mercedes GLK is #34, the Mercedes ML-Class #36, BMW X5 #40, Porsche Cayenne #42, BMW 7 Series #45, Mercedes S-Class #46 and Audi Q7 #50.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 50 German models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

The Toyota RAV4 should be back in the Top 10 best-selling Japanese models worldwide in 2013.

* See the Top 70 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

As expected, Japanese models are very well represented in the 2012 worldwide models ranking, starting with the #1 spot held by the Toyota Corolla with 1,097,132 sales. Then we find the Toyota Camry at #4 and 797,466 units, the Nissan Tiida/Versa/Sunny at #8 with 774,846 sales, Toyota Yaris/Vios at #12 and 708,619 units and the Honda Civic at #14 with 656,164 sales.

Suzuki Swift DZire

As we go through the most successful Japanese models in the world, it’s interesting to notice different models relying on different markets, showing how omnipresent across the planet Nippon carmakers have become. If the Camry and Honda Accord lodge a big part of their sales in the USA, the Toyota Hilux at #15 draws from South-East Asia, Australia and South America while the Suzuki Swift/Dzire at #19 relies mainly on India and the Toyota Avanza/Daihatsu Xenia at #64 gets the bulk of its worldwide sales from Indonesia…

Mitsubishi ASX

Notice also the Toyota RAV4 at #11 Japanese and #31 overall, a ranking that should improve in 2013 with the arrival of the new generation across worldwide dealerships, the Toyota Prius at #13 and #38, Toyota Prius C at #18 and #56, Nissan Qashqai/Dualis at #20 and #60 and the Mitsubishi ASX at #57 and #187, one of the best-selling Japanese small SUV cars in the world.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 70 Japanese models Ranking Table below.

This article is brought to you by Mitsubishi Motors.

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Kia Rio

* See the Top 40 best-selling Korean models by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

We continue on our exploration of the worldwide best-sellers in 2012 and this time I give you the best-selling Korean models. As expected, most of the ranking is a Hyundai/Kia affair with 33 of the Top 40 models being manufactured by either carmaker. Hyundai has the advantage however, lodging the Top 4 most popular models worldwide: the Elantra at #3, Accent at #13, Sonata at #21 and ix35/Tucson at #22. The Kia Rio/Pride/K2 ranks 5th Korean and #25 overall, followed by the Kia Sportage at #39, Kia Forte/Cerato/K3 at #44 and Optima/K5 at #53.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe comes next but should markedly improve its ranking in 2013 with the arrival of the new generation. Notice also the Kia Sorento at #10 Korean, Kia Picanto at #11, Hyundai i30 at #13, Kia Cee’d at #18, Hyundai Eon at #19, Daewoo Nexia (from Uzbekistan but technically still a Korean brand) at #22, Samsung SM5 at #28, SsangYong Korando at #29 and Kia Quoris/K9 at #40.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 40 Korean models Ranking Table below.

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Fiat 500L

* See my previous article about the Fiat 500L by clicking on the title! *

When Fiat launched the 500L last summer it was a bit of a bet: instead of renewing the Punto which needs it badly, instead they decided to build on the worldwide success of the 500 by revealing a small MPV inspired by the tiny best-seller. And the bet seems to have paid off so far…

Even though sales figures show it is only really high in the rankings in Italy where it reached #6 with 2.7% share in January, 40,000 orders have been registered since launch which Fiat claims has surpassed their expectations. And this is with the US market still to come. The Fiat 500L is produced in Serbia and the annual capacity is 150,000 units which would have placed it within the Top 150 most popular models worldwide in 2012.

Previous article about the Fiat 500L below.

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The BYD F3 is the best-selling Chinese Passenger Car in the world in 2012.

* See the Top 60 best-selling Chinese cars by clicking on the title! *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Chinese cars are starting to get themselves noticed on the world scene: in 2012 no less than 3 separate models managed to top the monthly ranking overseas: the Geely CK in Ukraine, Great Wall Steed in Bulgaria and DongFeng S30 in Venezuela. However world sales of Chinese models are still mostly fuelled by their success at home. Proof: the 5 best-selling Chinese models worldwide in 2012 are all commercial vehicles that sold mostly in China: the Wuling Sunshine leads at #20 overall followed by the Wuling Rongguang (#40), Foton Forland (#51), Wuling Hongguang (#55) and ChangAn Minibus (#65).

The Roewe 350 is #266 in the world in 2012.

The best-selling Chinese Passenger Car is the BYD F3 at #127 with 168,634 sales, helped by the launch of the 2nd generation during the year. The Chery QQ is just behind at #130 and 162,213 units, ahead of the Great Wall Steed at #138 with 153,630 sales and the Emgrand EC7 at #143 and 150,046 units. The Great Wall Voleex C30 rounds up the Chinese Top 10 at #150 overall with 142,631 sales.

The Baojun 630 ranks #279 worldwide in 2012.

Further down, notice the Chery Tiggo at #12 and #159, BYD S6 at #19 and #235, Roewe 350 at #21 and #266, Baojun 630 at #23 and #279, Lifan 620/Solano at #24 and #285, Brilliance H320 at #28 and #295, Zotye 5008 at #40 and #361 and MG3 at #49 and #388.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 60 Chinese models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

The 2nd generation Renault Clio survives in South America as the Clio Mio.

* See the Top 40 best-selling French models by clicking on the title! Thanks Austin *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Now that we have covered all segments of the 2012 worldwide All-models ranking, I thought I would slice it up by nationality. Being born in France I have special connection to that country so why don’t we start with it. And the first striking element that comes up when looking at the best-selling French cars in the world is how low they are in the ranking. French superminis (Renault 5, Peugeot 205 and 206) used to rank very high worldwide mainly thanks to their European sales but as that region stagnated for the last couple of decades, French models have plunged.

The Renault Duster launched successfully in Russia and India in 2012.

There are no Frenchies within the Top 30 most popular cars on the planet, and the best-seller is the Renault Clio/Symbol at #32 with 427,931 sales, keeping in mind this figure spans 3 different generations. In fact Renault places 4 models in the Top 4 French ranking but the other 3 all come from the Dacia low-cost range, which in itself is a very interesting development: the Logan ranks #41 overall with 373,819 sales, the Sandero is #59 at 299,848 and the Duster #61 with 295,096 units. Note that for 2013 Logan and Sandero sales will be combined as they are now the sedan and hatchback versions of one single model, and that will most likely place them in the French pole position.

Peugeot 207

The best-selling Peugeot is (for the last time most probably) the 207 in 5th French position and #68 overall with 274,415 sales. However if we were to compare apples with apples with the 3 generations of Clio we should add sales of the Peugeot 208 (#91) and 206 (#173) to come to a total of 617,758, way above the Clio(s). Citroen’s best-seller is the C4, mainly due to the success of the first generation in China, while the C3 ranks #9 French and #99 overall.

Citroen DS5

Further down, notice the Peugeot 405/Pars at #11 French and #101 overall thanks to its prolonged life in Iran, the Renault Kangoo at #12 and #128, Renault Scenic at #13 and #157, Citroen DS3 at #27 and #280, DS4 at #34 and #414 and DS5 at #39 and #459.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 40 French models Ranking Table below.

Read more…

The Toyota Tundra is the #14 best-selling pick-up in the world and #190 overall.

* See the direct links to all segment rankings below *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

There has been a lot of articles in the last few days about the World Full Year 2012 models ranking by segment, so I thought I’d write one more to list them all here. This way it is easier for you to access them.

Discover the Top 1000 best-selling cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 60 best-selling City cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 50 best-selling Small cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 50 best-selling Compact cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 40 best-selling Medium-Large cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 15 best-selling Sports cars in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 60 best-selling SUVs in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 50 best-selling MPVs in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 20 best-selling Pick-ups in the world in 2012

Discover the Top 40 best-selling Commercial Vehicles in the world in 2012

The Chery Tiggo is the best-selling Chinese SUV in the world in 2012.

* See the Top 60 best-selling SUVs by clicking on the title! *

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Now I know the SUV segment covers very different models from the small SUV like the Skoda Yeti (#50) to the biggest ones like the Toyota Land Cruiser (#25) but for simplicity I put them all together. And at this little game the Honda CR-V wins thanks to a huge 635,256 sales and with the help of the new generation which launched across the planet throughout the year with great success. The 2nd best-selling SUV in the world also spans two generation: the Hyundai ix35 (aka Tucson) sells 494,453 units and is followed by the VW Tiguan in frank progression notably in Europe thanks to its facelift with 429,013 sales.

The Hyundai ix35/Tucson is the #2 best-selling SUV in the world in 2012.

Just below we find the Toyota RAV4 at 428,514 units, a total that should increase in 2013 now that the new generation is in dealerships across the planet. The Ford Escape/Kuga is 5th adding up to 403,841 sales now that the two models are one across the world (it also includes previous generations), ahead of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Renault Duster at a brilliant 8th position and 295,096 units.

The Porsche Cayenne is the 60th best-selling SUV in the world in 2012…

Notice also the Nissan Juke at #11, Jeep Grand Cherokee at #13, Audi Q5 at #15, Kia Soul at #23, the Mazda CX-5 landing directly at #24 and #137 overall for its first appearance in the ranking, BMW X3 at #26 and BMW X1 at #28. The Chery Tiggo leads the Chinese charge at #31 and #159 overall, followed by the Great Wall Haval H6 at #35 and Great Wall Haval H3/H5 at #43. The Range Rover Evoque is up to a beautiful 40th spot while the Porsche Cayenne impresses at #60.

The original World Full Year 2012 Top 1000 is here

Full Year 2012 Top 60 SUVs Ranking Table below.

Read more…