China LCV May 2013: Wuling Sunshine back on top YTD

Wuling Sunshine

* See the Top 5 best-selling LCVs and Top 10 models overall by clicking on the title! *

Sales of new Light Commercial Vehicles in China are up a timid 1% year-on-year in May to 422,830 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,309,198 units. To put this into perspective, if Chinese LCV sales alone were a country, they would rank #3 in the world behind just China Passenger Cars and the US! Indeed, Japanese sales including Kei Cars amount to 2.26 million over the same period… After losing its crown to the Wuling Hongguang for 3 consecutive months between January and March, the Wuling Sunshine, leader in 2010, 2011 and 2012, is back in charge for the 2nd month in a row thanks to 49,506 sales, up 6% year-on-year. It also reclaims the pole position in the year-to-date ranking at 220,749 units (-10%) vs. 220,360 (+82%) for the Hongguang.

Again let’s bring a little perspective to these figures: for comparison, in the same month the Ford F-Series sold 71,604 units in the US (its strongest monthly figure in 7 years) and the VW Golf sold 40,695 units all across Europe. The Wuling Rongguang/Xingwang is up one spot on April to #2 but down 12% year-on-year to 31,732 sales while the Foton Forland rounds up the podium at 29,477 units.

In the overall models ranking, the VW Lavida is back on the podium below the Wuling Sunshine and Rongguang/Xingwang, these last 3 models being the only ones above 30,000 sales this month. The Ford Focus at #5 makes it 2 Passenger Cars inside the overall Top 5 vs. just one last month.

Previous month: China LCV April 2013: Wuling Sunshine reclaims throne

One year ago: China LCV May 2012: Wuling Hongguang continues to progress

Full May 2013 Top 5 LCV and Top 10 models overall Ranking Tables below.