Gulf August 2012: Toyota Prado and Ford Expedition strong

The Dodge Durango is up 42 spots on last month to rank #59 in the Gulf region.

* See the Top 150 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The Gulf Cooperation Council is composed of the sates bordering the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia,Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. In August new car sales in the region are up 12% year-on-year to 116,260 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 967,782 units, up a very healthy 21% on 2011. The Toyota Hilux is the best-selling model for the 7th month in a row, however with 9,963 sales and 8.6% it is its first time below 10,000 units since last January. Year-to-date the Hilux is head and shoulders above the competition at 86,766 sales and 9%, almost as much as during the Full Year 2011 (87,117)…

Toyota Prado

The Toyota Corolla is solid at #2 with 5,892 units and 5.1% which is also its 2012 year-to-date market share. Excellent month for the Toyota Prado, up one spot on July to land on the podium for the first time this year with 5,720 sales and 4.9% vs. 4.2% year-to-date and 2.8% in 2011. Helped by its new generation, the Toyota Camry is also up one spot to #4 at 5,011 units and 4.5%, passing the Toyota Land Cruiser down 2 to #5 with 4,848 sales and 4.2%. The Hyundai Accent and Elantra exchange positions to #6 and #7 respectively, while the Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-up is stable at #8.

Ford Expedition

It seems like nothing can stop the Ford Expedition this year: it is up a further 2 spots on July to sell 2,381 units (2% share) and land in a record 9th position, its first time ever in the Gulf Top 10. This is to be compared with the #100 spot and 3,219 units it sold in the USA at the same time… The Ford Expedition is only the second non-Toyota/Hyundai model to manage to break into the monthly Top 10 this year with the Nissan D22 in March. The last time a Ford ranked within the Top 10 in the region was in December 2011 when the Ford Crown Victoria was #9.

Nissan Sunny

The Kia Cerato continues to progress at #11 and 1.8% and the launch of its replacement the K3, already #10 in South Korea, should help the model reach even higher ground in the region. Nissan has a very satisfying month in the Gulf, placing 3 models in the Top 20: the all-new Sunny is up to #16 vs. #27 ytd, the Patrol is up to #17 vs. #23 and the Altima is at #20 vs. #25. Notice also the Kia Sportage up to #24 vs. #31 ytd.

Nissan Altima

Further down, the Chevrolet Malibu consolidates its #35 spot, the Lexus ES is up a magnificent 37 ranks to #36, the Mitsubishi Pajero is up 11 to #37, the Toyota Aurion up 18 to #49, the Nissan X-Terra up 44 to #51, the Dodge Durango up 42 to #59, the Nissan Micra up 64 to #76, the Honda City at #77 vs. #155 year-to-date, the BMW X6 up 42 spots to #79, the Jeep Cherokee up 57 to #80 and the Jeep Wrangler up 21 to #98. Notice also the Renault Duster at #108 and the Ford Mustang at #119.

Previous month: Gulf July 2012: Toyota Hilux and Corolla dominate, Kia Cerato up

Previous year: Gulf Full Year 2011: Toyota Hilux, Corolla and Camry on top

Full August 2012 Top 150 Ranking Table below.