China imports March 2022: Bentley (+47.6%), Mercedes (-9.6%) resist in market plunging -28%

Bentley sales are up 47.6% in a market down -28%

Whereas Chinese exports surge 28.8% this month, imports have stalled at -28% year-on-year to just 63,762 units. The Q1 2022 tally stands at 194,620 units, down -19.1% over the same period a year ago. The brands ranking is very stable as the Top 10 brands are identical to the YTD ranking. Lexus (-32.7%) falls faster than the market but remains in the lead with a 3,000+ advantage over Mercedes (-9.6%) which signs the only single-digit loss in the Top 10. Mini (-10.6%), Land Rover (-12.4%), Porsche (-14.1%) and Toyota (-16.7%) also beat the market in the remainder of the Top 10 but BMW (-42.6%), Audi (-37.7%) and Volvo (-36%) aren’t that lucky. Further down, Lotus (+250%), Ferrari (+153.3%), Bentley (+47.6%) and Infiniti (-22.2%) sign the only gains in market.

Over in the models ranking, the Lexus ES (-29.8%) easily retains the top spot, selling more than double any other imported vehicle this month. In fact the podium in unchanged on February with the Lexus RX (-17.4%) and Mercedes GLE (-11.7%)) gaining share year-on-year. The Mercedes S-Class (-4.6%) gains two spots on last month to #4, overtaking the BMW X5 (-44%) in a rut. The Porsche Cayenne (+9.8%) posts the only year-on-year uptick in the Top 10 and rallies back five spots on February to return to the #6 rank it also holds year-to-date. Meanwhile the Porsche Macan (-24.3%) is back up 13 ranks to #7 and the Lexus NX (-54.8%) is down three to #8. The Porsche Panamera (-15.9%) also beats the market in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, notice the Mercedes Maybach S-Class up 562.7% year-on-year at #16. 

Previous month: China imports February 2022: Lexus regains top spot in market sinking -22.5%

One year ago: China imports March 2022: Audi impresses in market up 31%

Full March 2022 Top 32 All-brands and Top XXX All-models below.