China Imports October 2019: Porsche (+4.4%), Toyota (+7.4%) survive in market back to hell: -17.8%

Porsche Macan sales soar 133% year-on-year in China this month.

Complete Chinese imports data is now available for October, BSCB being the only non-Chinese media to report on these figures monthly. After slowing down its fall to just -4.3% in September, the import market is back in freefall in October at -17.8% to 75.901 units, tilting the year-to-date tally into negative at -1% to 926.203. 4 of the Top 5 best-selling brands frankly outpace the market however, startling with leader Lexus (+0.3%) edging up ahead of BMW (-5.4%) containing its fall while Porsche (+4.4%) and Toyota (+7.4%) round up the Top 5 in splendid fashion. Only Mercedes (-32.1%) falls apart but remains at #3. In the remainder of the Top 10, only Mini (-1%) stands out while Audi (-53%), Volkswagen (-29.7%) and Lincoln (-28.5%) all implode. Beyond the Top 10, Tesla (+346.6% year-on-year but -89% on September), Lamborghini (+280%), Dodge (+154.5%), Mitsubishi (+63.3%), Rolls-Royce (+46.3%), Citroen (+21.7%), Chrysler (+6%) and Subaru (+3.3%) post rare gains.

Model-wise, the Lexus ES (+12.2%) remains untouchable, selling more than double the #2, the Lexus NX (-12%) with the BMW X5 (-31.3%) struggling mightily but back up one spot on September to #3. Lexus makes it 3 in the Top 4 with the RX (-3.9%) up 6 ranks on last month to #4, with Porsche holding the next two spots with the Cayenne (-8.3%) and Macan (+133%). The remainder of the Top 10 is entirely in positive, with the Volvo XC90 (+49.3%) and Mercedes S-Class (+36.1%) performing best alongside the Mini (+11.6%) and Toyota Land Cruiser (+0.9%). The VW Touareg (+24.8%) is up 10 spots on September to #14 thanks to the new generation, the Mitsubishi Pajero (+63.5%) is up 9 to #17 and the BMW 5 Series (+42.6%) up 12 to #21. The Lexus UX (#29) tops recent launches above the Lincoln Nautilus (#33), BMW X7 (#36), X2 (#37) and Tesla Model 3 (#43) down 41 ranks on last month.

Previous month: China Imports September 2019: Tesla Model 3 lifts to #2 in market down -4.3%

One year ago: China Imports October 2018: Lexus ES back in charge in market up 4.9%

Full October 2019 Top 50 All-brands and Top 205 All-models below.