China imports May 2021: Lexus monopolises podium in market down -11.5%

Lexus NX sales are up 37.1% in May in China.

Note: April data is also included in the tables below.

Sales of imported cars in China drop -11.5% year-on-year in May to 79.295 units, leading to a year-to-date tally up 18% to 405.337. Lexus (-8.1%) resists better than the market and continues to lead the brands ranking, up a splendid 34.8% so far this year. Mercedes (+12.4%) is up to 2nd place thanks to a double-digit year-on-year gain but remains at #3 year-to-date below BMW (-5.2%), ranking third this month. Porsche (-7.9%) also resists well in 4th place but it’s Audi (+37.2%) that scores the best year-on-year uptick in the Top 10. Volvo (+16.6%), Land Rover (+8%) and Mini (+6.5%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas Toyota (-72.8%) suffers from the discontinuation of the Land Cruiser and Subaru (-20%) continues to suffer, albeit up one spot on April to #10. Ferrari (+360%), Aston Martin (+126.7%), Chrysler (+103.1%), Lamborghini (+48.8%) and Maserati (+33.2%) shine further down.

Lexus monopolises the May models podium, a feat it also achieved in April. The Lexus ES (-18.8%) easily retains the top spot despite a steep year-on-year fall. It distances the Lexus NX (+37.1%) scoring the largest gain in the Top 7 thanks to the new model, and the Lexus RX (-15.4%) in difficulty. The Mercedes GLE (-16.4%) is the most successful of the non-Lexus imports in 4th place overall, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. Difficulty month for the BMW X5 (-21.2%) which is however up one spot on April to #5, ahead of the Porsche Macan (-6.1%) and Cayenne (-13.2%) both down also. The Mercedes S-Class is the fastest grower in the Top 10 at #8, with the BMW 7 Series (-8.2%) and Toyota Alphard (-4.9%) in tow. The Land Rover Defender (#31) leads recent launches above the Porsche Taycan (#39).

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

One year ago: China imports May 2020: Mercedes, Lexus defy weak market (-9.9%)

Full April and May 2021 Top 33 All-brands and Top 155 All-models below.