China imports March 2021: Audi impresses in market up 31%

Audi imports are up 247.9% year-on-year in March.

Note: January and February data is also included in the tables below.

Sales of imported cars in China bounce back 31% year-on-year in March to 88.534, leading to a year-to-date tally up 49.1% to 240.490 units. Lexus (+52.6%) gains more ground than the market to consolidate its domination at close to 25.000 sales for the month. It distances Mercedes (+56.2%) back above BMW (+28.3%) while Porsche (+25.7%) is a little shy but Audi (+247.9%) posts a smashing gain in 5th place. Volvo (+62.7%) and Land Rover (+54.6%) also outpace the market in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas Toyota (-24.9%) and Volkswagen (+3.5%) are in difficulty. Further down, notice Lamborghini (+607.1%), Aston Martin (+215%), Maserati (+124.7%), Rolls Royce (+107.1%) and Jeep (+74.6%) all securing fantastic gains.

Over in the imported models aisle, the Lexus ES (+56.7%) sails off into the distance, selling exactly 2.5 times more than its closest follower the Lexus RX (+57.8%). The Mercedes GLE (+70.6%) climbs onto the podium for the month, knocking the BMW X5 (+48.8%) down to #4 vs. #2 so far this year. At #5, the Lexus NX (+41.8%) makes it three Lexus in the Top 5 vs. Top 4 over the Full Year 2020. Outstanding performances by the Mercedes S-Class (+107.3%), Porsche Panamera (+94.6%) and Toyota Alphard (+58.2%) in the remainder of the Top 10. The Land Rover Defender (#26) is by far the best-selling recent launch (<12 months) above the Porsche Taycan (#42).

Previous post: China imports Full Year 2020: Lexus places ES, RX and NX in Top 4 again in market down -13.7%

One year ago: China March 2020: Porsche (+50.8%) defies market down -35.3%

Full March 2021 Top 32 All-brands and Top 165 All-models below.