Japan Imports Q4 2012: Mercedes C-Class #1, VW Up! lands at #4

VW Up!

* See the Top 20 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

Every quarter we have access to sales of imported vehicles in Japan, reported by a different organisation, the Japan Automobile  Importers Association. Note that from now on sales of re-imported vehicles by Japanese manufacturers (eg Toyota) are not included. Big surprise in pole position over the last Quarter of 2012: for the first time in over 5 years, since Q2 2007 when the BMW 3 Series was #1, the VW Golf doesn’t lead the charts – that’s 22 consecutive Quarters of Golf domination. The Mercedes C-Class is the most popular import in Japan over the period thanks to 4,136 sales, up 43% year-on-year!

Mercedes C-Class

It is followed by the Mini up 8% to 4,088 units and the BMW 3 Series up a massive 102% year-on-year to 3,975 sales. As I mentioned in an earlier article, the VW Up! is shaping up to be Volkswagen’s most successful launch in Japan: for its first quarter it shoots up directly to #4 import at 3,682 units, already the German carmaker’s best-seller ahead of the Golf (#5) and Polo (#6)! Other great performers include the Volvo V60 up 17% to #7, Mercedes B-Class up to #9 and VW Beetle up to #11.

Full Year post: Japan Imports Full Year 2012: VW Golf #1, Mini at record heights

Previous post: Japan Imports Q3 2012: VW Golf leads, BMW 3 Series in Top 5

Previous year: Japan Imports Full Year 2011: VW Golf #1, now in overall Top 30!

Full Q4 2012 Top 20 Ranking Table below.