China December 2012: New generation VW Jetta up to #2

VW Jetta

* See the Top 286 all-models ranking by clicking on the title! *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

It is now a fact: the Ford Focus is the most popular Passenger Car in China, topping the monthly ranking by far for the 5th month in a row and the 6th time in the last 7 months with an enormous 36,868 sales, its 2nd highest monthly volume after the 38,362 units it sold in November. This brings the Focus to #1 in the Full Year ranking at 296,630 sales. In second place, now boosted by the 2nd generation of the model (the first substantial change in the last 20 years!), the VW Jetta is up 8 spots on November to 24,056 units, and is followed by the Chevrolet Sail at 21,114 sales and the VW Sagitar robust again at 19,042 units.

Nissan Sylphy

After struggling for the last 3 months as a result of China-Japan tensions, Japanese brands are back in the game in December: the Honda CR-V is up 18 ranks to #6 at 18,977 units, its 2nd highest ranking after the #4 it hit last March, the Nissan Sylphy is up 22 to a best-ever #7 with 18,610 sales, the Toyota Corolla EX up 19 to #16, Toyota Corolla up 14 to #23 and the Toyota Camry up 7 to #24.

Emgrand EC7

Two models break into the Chinese Top 10 for the first time this month: the Hyundai Elantra Langdong (new generation) is up 4 spots to a record #8 at 16,487 units and the Emgrand EC7 is up 5 ranks to #10 with 15,977 sales. This is the first time since last April when the Great Wall Haval H3, H5 and H6 were still counted together that a Chinese model manages to rank within the Top 10 at home. The EC7 is followed by the Great Wall Haval H6 reaching a best-ever #13, the Great Wall Voleex C30 at its highest since last February (#14) and the Chery QQ (#15) while the new gen BYD F3 Surui is up a healthy 7 ranks on last month to a record #25 with 12,084 units and the BYD L3 is also up 7 to beat its ranking and volume records as well at #26 and 12,017 sales.

BYD L3

Other great performers this month include the Hyundai ix35 up a further one spot to #19, the Kia K3 solid at #30 and a best-ever 11,131 units, the Chery Fulwin 2 back up 80 ranks to #39, the Hyundai Santa Fe landing directly at #64 with 7,000 sales for its first month in market, the Soueast V5 Lingzhi up 40 to #69 and the Mercedes E-Klasse L up 64 to #87. Notice also the Fiat Viaggio down 10 spots to #115 and the Buick Encore arriving at #116 with 3,990 units.

Full Year post: China Full Year 2012: Ford Focus triumphs

Previous month: China November 2012: Ford Focus and VW Lavida to record heights

One year ago: China December 2011: Honda Accord and Great Wall Haval impress

Full December 2012 Top 286 All-models Ranking Table below.