China imports August 2018: Lexus snaps lead in market up 12%

The Lexus NX is the best-selling import in China in August.

* See the Top 50 All imported brands and Top 215 models by clicking on the title *

All-brands and All-models January 2017-August 2018 monthly data available, contact us here.

Complete Chinese imports data is now available for August, BSCB being the first media outside of China to report on these figures monthly. The new tariff situation for new car imports in China is now two-fold: 40% on U.S. imports and  15% on all other imports (instead of 25% up until June 30). However once again there is no negative effect (yet) of the U.S. import tariff hike with total August volumes up 12% year-on-year to 109.496. The year-to-date tally is now up 5% to 740.730. Surprise atop the imported brands ranking: Lexus surges 61% to almost 18.600 units, roughly 4.000 above #2 Mercedes (+1%) while last month’s leader, BMW (-6%), is down two ranks to #3 and 14.100. Toyota (+28%) is back above Porsche (+29%) with Audi (+48%) and Lincoln (+30%) also frankly beating the market in the Top 10 and Mazda (+37700%), Mitsubishi (+217%), Volvo (+43%), Renault (+38%) and Ford (+32%) doing so further down.

The imported models ranking reflects Lexus’s domination this month: the Lexus NX (+155%) shoots up to pole position for the first time in at least 20 months, followed by the RX (+55%) at #2. As a result, the NX steps up to #3 year-to-date, overtaking the Mercedes CLA (+64%) and the RX is up to #5, now above the Mercedes GLE. The BMW X5 (-9%) posts a decline this month at #3 but remains in the YTD lead with 35.800 sales ahead of the Lexus ES (-28%) back up 16 spots on July to #6 in August but in difficulty again. The Lexus IS (+668%), Audi Q7 (+90%), Porsche Cayenne (+48%) and Toyota Land Cruiser (+44%) also stand out in the Top 10 with the Toyota Alphard (+717%), Lincoln Continental (+211%) and Volvo XC90 (+109%) making waves further down. The BMW 6 Series GT (#38) tops all recent launches ahead of the Mercedes AMG GLC (#74) and Mazda CX-3 (#77).

Previous year: China Full Year 2017: Exclusive imports data by model and brand

Full August 2018 Top 50 All imported brands and Top 215 models below.