China imports March 2023: Volkswagen, Volvo, Land Rover shine in stable market (-1.6%)

Volvo import sales are up 47.6% in March.

Sales of new imported cars in China are stable in March at -0.8% to 63,224 units, however March 2022 was off -28% on the year prior so this is still a poor result. The Q1 2023 volume now down -10.7% to 173,853. Mercedes (+7.3%) posts a sturdy result to easily retain the brands pole position with over 14,500 sales. It has now crossed the 40,000 imports barrier year-to-date. Traditional leader Lexus (-41.8%) freefalls again this month and drops -40% year-to-date. BMW (+5.4%) edges up at #3 while the next 5 manufacturers secure stellar performances with double-digit gains: Volvo (+47.6%) is the most dynamic followed by Land Rover (+44%), Toyota (+24.8%), Audi (+23.4%) and Porsche (+17.5%). Volkswagen (+59.6%) is even stronger at #10.

Despite tumbling down -39.5% year-on-year, the Lexus ES remains the best-selling imported model in China in March. It also easily holds onto the YTD top spot with almost 6,500 more sales than the #2, the Mercedes GLE (-10.9%). The Lexus NX (+69.3%) defies the brand’s poor result to rank #3 ahead of the Porsche Cayenne (+56.2%) and Toyota Alphard (+29.6%) both in outstanding shape. The Volvo XC90 (+69.8%) beats them all, lodging the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10, with the Mercedes GLS (+15.9%) and Porsche Panamera (+2.8%) also outrunning the market. The Porsche Macan (-15.2%) and Mercedes S-Class (-13.4%) are in difficulty. 

Previous month: China imports February 2023: Mercedes (+55%) stays #1, Porsche (+122.1%), Toyota (+94.2%) stand out, sales up 30.6%

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

Full March 2023 Top 35 All brands and Top 152 All models below.