China imports August 2022: Porsche (+42.7%), Jeep (+51.1%) shine in market off -6%

Porsche Cayenne sales are up 56.6% year-on-year in August.

Imported new cars into China drop -6% year-on-year in August to 73,720, leading to a year-to-date volume off -22.4% to 511,098. This follows a long-term trend with imports reducing as more and more models shift to local manufacture instead. Lexus (-7.6%) falls slightly faster than the market but stays in the lead with just under 19,000 sales. In fact the entire Top 9 returns to its YTD order. Like last month, Porsche (+42.7%) clearly stand out with Volvo (+3.6%) and Land Rover (+1.5%) are the only additional gainers in the lot. Toyota (-3.5%) keeps its fall below the market rate whereas Audi (-39.1%), BMW (-19.1%) and Mini (-10.4%) struggle. Jeep (+51.1%) and Volkswagen (+44.6%) follow, both in great shape.

Over in the models ranking, the Lexus ES (+13.5%) goes against the market with a double-digit gain to widen the gap with  the other models, selling more than double any other imported nameplate in market. The Top 4 is unchanged on last month and YTD, with the Lexus RX (-1.2%) gaining share year-on-year, the Mercedes GLE (-10%) dropping share and the Porsche Cayenne (+56.6%) taking off, with 24% of its August total going to the hybrid variant. Below, the Porsche Panamera (+245.3%) climbs to #6 for the month and #7 year-to-date while the Porsche Macan (-13%) ranks 7th in August and 6th year-to-date. The Mercedes GLS (+27.3%) also shines in the remainder of the Top 10 which sees the Lexus NX (-49.2%) in freefall.

Note: We have removed the Cadillac Lumin from the charts as it appears to be a mistake from our source and should be entered as the Changan Lumin in the locally-produced charts.

Previous month: China imports July 2022: Porsche surges 41.9% in market down -12.9%

One year ago: China imports August 2022: Audi, Mercedes, Land Rover can’t prevent market fall (-8.5%)

Full August 2022 Top 35 all brands and Top 150 all models below.