World 9 months 2012: Discover the Top 180 best-selling models!

The BYD F3 could reclaim the title of Chinese best-selling passenger car in the world next month.

* See the Top 180 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Austin *

As is now the tradition on BSCB, after exploring the Top 150 most popular cars around the globe for September 2012, we now have a further look at the worldwide year-to-date ranking to extract longer-term trends. Please notice these are September and 9 months figures, not October as not all data has come through yet for that month. Despite historically losing the top spot in September to the Ford Focus, the Toyota Corolla is still solidly installed in pole position year-to-date in 2012 865,674 sales vs. 747,228 for the Focus. The Toyota Camry holds onto its third position at 590,759 units but could be threatened by the VW Golf before the end of the year. Volkswagen’s best-seller adds up to 582,621 sales and ranked at a shiny 4th place in September, with the 7th generation’s effect on sale kicking in in November…

The launch of the 7th generation could help the VW Golf climb onto the worldwide podium by the end of the year.

The Chevrolet Cruze ranks #5 with a brilliant 571,172 sales, ahead of the Ford F-Series at 569,906 and the Hyundai Elantra at 566,812. If anything, the Elantra could gain one or two spots by the end of 2012 if strong sales in China of the new generation continue on their current trajectory. After a scare in August (#15), the Ford Fiesta is back in the Top 10 in September thanks to a strong UK market and should remain in 8th position this year, with the facelifted model helping it to maintain a high level until the end of the year. The VW Jetta is only #10 in spite of 3 consecutive months in third position, this ranking will go down as sales of the Chinese Jetta get removed once the new generation goes on widespread sales there in November.

Buick Excelle XT

There is not a lot of movement in the YTD ranking as the end of the year is starting to get close and total volume get higher. For example, the Toyota Hilux (#16) and Opel Astra (#18) remain stable in spite of excellent performances in September at #12 and #14 respectively – the latter mainly thanks to strong sales of the Buick Excelle XT in China. Notice the Honda Accord now within the Top 20 thanks to a weak month from the Suzuki Swift.

Ford Transit

Further down, the Opel Corsa benefits from a strong UK market to go up 2 spots to #27, the Ford Escape/Kuga is up one to #32, the Hyundai Tucson/ix35 up 2 to #35, the Renault/Dacia Logan down one to #36 but would rank #12 with 516,476 sales once Sandero figures are added – which will be the case in November as the two models are now the sedan and hatchback version of one single car. The Mercedes C-Class is up 3 to #57, the Toyota Aqua up 2 to #64, Renault Megane up 2 to #68 and the Ford Transit and VW Lavida are both up 4 ranks to #75 and #76 respectively.

FAW Xiali N5

The FAW Xiali N3/N5 is still the best-selling Chinese passenger car but it is down 4 spots to #132 and is now only 1,700 sales above the Chery QQ, up 2 ranks to #134 while the BYD F3 is up 7 to #137 with 106,401 sales and could reclaim the Chinese passenger car title as early as next month with the new F3 ‘Surui’ off to a good start in China.

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Full 9 months 2012 Top 180 Ranking Table below.