China imports Full Year 2021: Lexus ES and BMW X5 top market down -6.9%

The BMW X5 is the 2nd best-selling import in China in 2021.

Discover 40 years worth of Chinese Historical Data here.

Due to two wobbly months at the end of the year (November at -35.3% and December at -34.7%), the Chinese imports market ends 2021 in negative at -6.9% to 935,059 units. Market leader Lexus (-7.1%) almost exactly follows the market to just under 220,000 sales in the country. But below, the followers are catching up: Mercedes is up 10.7% to 172,000 sales and BMW gains 7.5% to just under 166,000 units. Mercedes was even #1 in September and BMW ranked 1st in January, October and November. Porsche (+4.8%) is also solid in 4th place while Audi (+36.5%) soars to #5. Land Rover (+4.2%) and Mini (+3.4%) also overtake Toyota (-62.9%) in freefall as the Land Cruiser disappears. Volvo (+13.5%) is also dynamic and cracks the Top 10 at #9 whereas Volkswagen (-32.7%) and Subaru (-19.1%) both struggle. Notice also Ferrari (+904.7%), Hyundai (+298%), Rolls Royce (+35.6%) and Bentley (+19.1%) in outstanding shape just as Tesla (-95.3%) logically implodes as the Model 3 and Y are produced locally. 

Model-wise, the Lexus ES (-7.9%) easily retains the #1 spot, selling more than double any other imported nameplate. The BMW X5 (+3.3%) overtakes the Lexus RX (-1.6%) to 2nd place overall, while the Mercedes GLE (+15.4%) shoots up above the Lexus NX (-9.5%). The Porsche Cayenne (-16.9%) and Macan (+5.3%) follow like last year, just as the Toyota Alphard (-0.3%) advances one spot to #8 and the Mercedes S-Class (-2%) is up two to #9. The Volvo XC90 (+11.2%), Audi A5 (+78.9%), Q7 (+59.1%), Porsche Panamera (+13.4%), Mercedes GLS (+46.2%) and Lexus UX (+31.1%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 20. Not many novelties in the ranking, led by the Mercedes AMG GLB at #71.

Previous month: China imports November 2021: Sales drop worsens to -35.3%, BMW best-seller

Previous year: China imports 2020: Lexus places ES, RX and NX in Top 4 again in market down -12.3%

Two years ago: China imports 2019: Lexus takes control with ES and RX, Tesla Model 3 lands in Top 10

Full December 2021 Top 32 All-brands and Top 152 All-models below.

Full Year 2021 Top 50 All-brands and Top 325 All-models vs. Full Year 2020 figures below.